LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


B. 

G123 
Copy  2 


ILLINOIS  IliJTORICAl  SUr.'JET 


FOOT-PRINTS 


OF 


AN    ITINERANT 


MAXWELL  PIERSON  GADDIS, 

OF  THE  CINCINNATI  CONFERENCE. 


As  ye  go,  preach. — Matthew  x,  7. 

How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth 
good  tidings !— Isaiah  lu,  7. 


Cittriimafi; 

PRINTED  AT  THE  METHODIST  BOOK  CONCERN, 


FOE.  THE   AUTHOR. 


B.    P.    THOMPSON,    PRINTER, 
1856. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1855, 

BY   MAXWELL   P.   GADDIS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Ohio. 


(b 


G\S^ 


TO 

AND 

ITINERANT  MINISTERS 

OF 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH 

AND 

TO   MY  COLABORERS   OF  THE  OHIO  AND  CINCINNATI  CONFERENCES. 

AND   TO   ALL 

"AMONG  WHOM  I  HAVE  GONE  PREACHING  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD," 

®t)£S*  jFoot-^rtnt* 

ARE    FRATERNALLY    INSCRIBED 

BY   THEIR 

FELLOW-LABORER  IN  THE  LORD, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


KjO 


ft 


PREFACE 


More  than  two  years  ago,  in  consequence  of  a 
bronchial  affection,  I  reluctantly  dissolved  my  pas- 
toral relation  with  the  Green-street  station,  in  the 
city  of  Piqua,  Miami  county,  Ohio.  Under  these 
circumstances  I  was  induced  to  go  to  the  city  of 
New  York,  for  the  purpose  of  consulting  a  distin. 
guished  physician.  From  there  I  proceeded  with 
my  family  to  Brattleboro,  Vermont,  and  spent  the 
remaining  part  of  the  summer  of  1853  at  the  cel- 
eorated  "Wesselhoeft  "Water-Cure  Establishment." 
In  the  fall  my  health  was  slightly  improved,  but  my 
vocal  organs  so  much  debilitated  that  I  was  com- 
pelled to  take  a  superannuated  relation.  When  1 
retired  from  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry,  l 
resolved  to  go  again  and  visit  my  brethren  in  every 
city  where  I  had  previously  gone  preaching  the  word 
of  the  Lord,  "and  see  how  they  prospered."  But 
this  I  found  impracticable.  In  entering  into  a  ret- 
rospect of  the  different  circuits  and  stations  assigned 
to  me  I  could  truly  say,  "Though  I  be  absent  in 
the  flesh,  yet  am  I  with  you  in  spirit,  joying  and  be- 
holding your  order  and  the  steadfastness  of  your 
faith  in  Christ."  I  was  then  deeply  impressed  with 
the  belief  that  the  time  for  labor  with  me  that  would 
be  profitable  to  my  fellow-men  was  drawing  to  a 
close.  It  was  then  and  at  a  still  later  period  of  that 
same  year  that  the  " Foot-Prints  of  an  Itinerant" 


6  TREFACE. 

were  hastily  written.  I  addressed  a  note  to  a  highly- 
esteemed  literary  friend,  with  a  request  that  he  would 
take  charge  of  my  manuscripts  and  keep  them  till 
after  my  decease,  and  then  make  such  disposition  of 
them  as  he  should  think  hest — for  the  glory  of  God, 
the  good  of  his  Church,  and  the  interest  of  my  be- 
loved family.  The  following  fraternal  letter  will  re- 
veal the  spirit  with  which  they  were  received : 

"  My  Dear  Brother  Gaddis, — I  have  just  time  to  say  that 
T  received  and  read  with  deep  interest  yours  of  January 
18th, .  You  are  acting  wisely  in  penning  your  recollec- 
tions of  the  past.  The  book  will  not  only  be  interesting  to 
your  associates,  but  to  the  Church  in  general  and  the  public 
at  large — as  I  presume  it  will  embody  much  of  the  local  history 
of  south-eastern  Ohio.  Any  service  that  I  can  render  you 
will  be  most  cheerfully  afforded.  I  have  often  prayed  for  God 
to  bless  you  in  your  affliction.  Be  grateful  for  his  mercies; 
O,  how  rich  and  abundant  they  are! 

"Yours,  affectionately,  ." 

About  midsummer  in  the  following  year,  on  meet- 
ing this  beloved  brother,  he  informed  me  that  he  had 
"redeemed  time"  to  read  ail  my  manuscripts  care- 
fully, and  that  it  was  his  opinion  that  I  should  super- 
intend their  publication  myself  without  delay.  This 
statement  surprised  me  very  much ;  and  I  deem  it 
proper  to  state  to  my  readers  that  I  had  no  such 
thoughts  while  eDgaged  in  sketching  my  personal 
recollections  of  incidents  and  scenes  in  the  itin- 
erancy. I  never  expected  to  see  them  printed.  I 
had  simply  recorded  facts  and  incidents  without 
special  regard  to  style  or  any  attempt  at  ornament. 
I  thought  if  they  were  published  in  future  they 
would    need   rewriting  or   a  supervision,   such   as    I 


PREFACE.  7 

was  unable  to  give  in  my  present  state  of  health. 
However,  I  finally  concluded  to  order  their  return. 
I  then  forwarded  them  to  Bishop  T.  A.  Morris  at 
Cincinnati,  with  the  request  that  he  would  give 
them  an  impartial  investigation.  His  opinion  of 
their  merits,  after  a  careful  examination,  and  the 
propriety  of  then  publication  in  their  present  form, 
will  be  found  in  the  following  brief,  characteristic 
communication : 

"Hojte  Lodge,  November  25,  1354. 
'•'Rev.  Maxwell  P.  Gaddis — Dear  Brother, — I  have  fol- 
lowed your  'Foot-Prints'  through  with  much  interest,  alter- 
nately moved  with  tender  and  terrific  emotions  as  the  scenes 
and  subjects  changed.  I  am  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  the 
manuscript  ought  to  be  published,  and  that  it  would  be  pop- 
ular and  useful,  and  of  course  would  sell  quite  extensively. 
"  Yours,  faithfully,  T.  A.  Morris." 

As  the  "Foot-Prints"  contain  much  personal  ex- 
perience and  observation,  I  still  hesitated  to  publish 
them  myself  till  the  reception  of  a  second  letter 
from  a  highly-esteemed  friend,  in  regard  to  the  pro- 
priety of  publishing  them  at  the  present  time. 
Were  I  permitted  to  give  the  name  of  the  writer, 
none  would  doubt  his  ability  to  judge  correctly  of 
their  merits : 

"As  a  friend  I  would  advise  you  to  put  the  manuscript  to 
press  without  any  thing  else  than  such  a  revision  as  you  can 
easily  give  yourself  as  the  sheets  pass  through  the  press.  Do 
not  think  me  hesitating  or  equivocating;  I  say  as  before,  the 
work  will  do  well.  It  may  safely  go  to  press  as  it  is.  I  would 
advise  you  to  put  it  to  press  immediately. 

"Yours,  affectionately,  ." 

Dear  reader,  twenty  years  ago  last  February  I 
commenced  the  work  of  the  ministry.     When  I  com- 


S  PREFACE. 

menced  my  labors  the  original,  eloquent  band  of 
"  western  pioneers  "  were  still  on  the  field  of  battle. 
I  entered  the  work  at  a  point  which  brought  me  into 
close  fellowship  with  Revs.  Quinn,  Lakin,  Collins, 
Jones,  Page,  Christie,  Eerree,  and  Raper.  These 
venerable  men  of  God  "taught  my  inexperienced 
hands  to  war  and  my  fingers  to  fight."  I  am  es- 
pecially indebted  for  much  of  my  success  in  winning 
souls  to  Christ  to  the  instructions  of  the  venerable 
John  Collins  and  the  late  Rev.  William  B.  Christie, 
who  were  both  men  of  deep  experience  and  great  prac- 
tical skill.  I  regret  that  I  did  not  profit  more  by 
their  lessons  of  experience  and  brilliant  example. 
Upward  of  fifty  of  Zion's  watchmen  have  "  died  at 
their  post"  in  the  Ohio  and  Cincinnati  conferences 
since  I  commenced  the  work  of  the  ministry.  I  was 
intimately  acquainted  with  nearly  all  of  them,  and 
some  of  them  I  loved  most  tenderly.  "  Our  fathers, 
where  are  they?  and  the  prophets,  do  they  live  for- 
ever?" It  seems  but  as  yesterday  since  I  girded 
myself  for  battle.  How  fleeting  and  transient  is 
human  life ! 

"We  are  passing  away." 

"  Time 
Knows  not  the  weight  of  sleep  or  weariness, 
And  night's  deep  darkness  has  no  chain  to  bind 
His  rushing  pinion." 

Eternity!  0,  eternity!  how  it  sounds  in  my  ears! 
Brothers  and  companions,  let  us  "walk  circum- 
spectly, not  as  fools,  but  wise,  redeeming  the  time, 
because  the  days  are  evil."  "Let  us  contend  earn- 
estly for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints," 
holding  fast  the  form  of  sound  words,  and  then  God 


PREFACE.  9 

will  go  forth  with  our  armies  as  in  other  years.  "The 
direct  and  downright  preaching  of  Jesus,  in  these 
days  of  critical  and  carping  hearers,  requires  far 
more  boldness,  self-denial,  and  consistency  of  deci- 
sion than  is  generally  suspected.  There  is  a  lament- 
able aversion,  in  all  ranks  and  classes,  to  the  mi- 
decorated  propositions  of  the  Bible.  The  embassy 
of  Divine  mercy  must  be  philosophized  and  rhetor- 
icated,  or  we  reject  it.  Plainness  of  speech  is  mean- 
ness of  speech.  We  call  for  figures  and  flowers  of 
oratory;  we  are  luxurious  in  our  tastes  and  exor- 
bitant in  our  demands;  spiritual  life  and  spiritual 
death,  the  vast  themes  of  eternity,  and  the  engross- 
ing subjects  of  revelation,  are  powerless  to  move  us, 
unless  tricked  out  and  garnished  with  the  pride  of 
learning  and  the  glory  of  the  schools.  We  go  to 
church  or  chapel  as  we  would  to  a  lecture-room  or 
a  theater — for  intellectual  instruction  or  intellectual 
entertainment;  and  our  approbation  of  the  per- 
former is  in  exact  proportion  to  the  skill  which  he 
exhibits  or  the  talent  he  displays.  The  fact  is,  we 
take  the  bread  of  life  and  the  water  of  life,  not  be- 
cause we  hunger  and  thirst,  but  in  compliance  with 
the  pressure  of  a  fashionable  duty;  and  the  preacher 
who  best  succeeds  in  turning  the  water  into  wine 
and  the  bread  into  sumptuous  fare,  is  the  preacher 
under  whom  we  'sit'  with  the  greatest  composure." 
"  He  calleth  to  me  out  of  Seir,  Watchman,  what  of  the 
night?  watchman,  what  of  the  night?  The  watch- 
man said,  The  morning  cometh,  and  also  the  night: 
if  ye  will  inquire,  inquire  ye:  return,  come!" 

I  respond  with  humility,  that  I  have  constantly 


10  PREFACE. 

endeavored  to  preach  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the 
blessed  God,  which  was  committed  to  my  trust,  with 
great  plainness  of  speech,  confidently  believing  that 
it  would  prove  effectual  in  the  awakening  and  con- 
version of  my  fellow-men.  I  now  thank  Jesus 
Christ,  who  counted  me  faithful,  putting  me  into  the 
ministry,  that  the  successive  fields  of  labor  assigned 
to  me  were  never  barren.  I  sowed  the  good  seed 
of  the  kingdom,  believing  that  I  should  reap  soon. 
I  was  not  disappointed.  I  have  witnessed  many  ex- 
traordinary revivals  of  religion,  especially  in  the 
Scioto  and  Miami  Valleys.  Many  have  been  added 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  through  my  fee- 
ble instrumentality — some  of  whom  are  now  with 
trump  in  hand  standing  as  watchmen  on  the  walls 
of  Zion.  To  God  be  all  the  glory!  Amen.  To 
my  former  colaborers  I  will  take  the  liberty  of  say- 
ins,  let  us  exalt  the  cross  now  and  ever;  let  us 
continue  to  point  the  sinner  to  it  as  the  only  accept- 
able sacrifice,  as  the  only  adequate  purchase  of  sal- 
vation. For  the  sin-sick,  dying  soul  there  is  no 
other  fountain  but  that  which  has  been  opened 
for  sin  and  uncleanness;  for  the  "weary  and 
heavy  laden"  no  other  relief  but  the  Lamb  of  God 
that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world.  To  the  tem- 
pest-tossed mariner  of  time  we  would  present  no 
other  chart  than  that  which  was  drawn  by  the 
great  Captain  of  our  salvation — no  other  compass 
than  that  which  points  unerringly  to  the  throne  of 
God — no  other  foundation  than  that  which  was 
laid  in  Zion,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief 
corner-stone. 


PREFACE.  11 

It  is  now  more  than  two  years  since  I  have  been 
able  to  preach.  This  is  a  sore  deprivation  to  one 
ivliose  heart  is  still  in  the  work.  Yet  I  do  not  re- 
pine ;  I  am  still  a  very  happy  man.  I  could  never 
see  my  way  clear  at  any  former  period  to  quit  the 
battle-field.  In  my  retirement  this  reflection  affords 
me  much  consolation,  that  while  continued  by  the 
conference  on  the  "list  of  effectives"  I  was  a  i:man 
of  one  work."  "By  the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I 
am."  When  the  dark  days  of  prostration  came 
upon  me  and  wearisome  "  nights  were  appointed  unto 
me," 

"  O'er  all  those  cloudy  scenes  and  dark 

There  ever  was  within  my  call, 
An  arm  outstretched  to  guard  my  fall, 

And  guide  my  fragile  bark ; 
A  light,  a  sign  of  power  divine, 
Which  made  the  darkest  night  with  radiance  shine. 

"  Thou,  Lord,  hast  known  my  soul  in  adversities.  I 
had  fainted  unless  I  had  believed,  to  see  the  good- 
ness of  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living.  My 
heart  trusted  in  thee  and  I  am  helped." 

"  Ever  changeless, 
God's  blessed  word  hath  firmly  stood." 

I  have  not  been  without  friends  in  "time  of  need" 
in  by-gone  days.  I  do  not  fear  that  they  will  for- 
sake me  while  living,  or  forget  me  when  dead. 

"  To  live  in  hearts  we  leave  behind  us 
Is  not  to  die." 

In  conclusion,  I  need  only  say  to  my  numerous 
friends  and  a  generous  public,  that  the  entire  pro- 
ceeds arising  from  the  sale  of  this  work  will  be 
faithfully  applied  to  procure  the  means  of  an  inde- 


12  PREFACE. 

pendent  subsistence  for  my  affectionate  wife  and 
three  children,  whose  happiness  and  welfare  are  as 
dear  to  me  as  life  itself. 

I  now  send  forth  the  "  Foot-Prints  of  an  Itiner- 
ant" with  the  ardent  hope  that  they  may  travel 
more  extensively  and  prove  a  greater  blessing  to  the 
Church  and  more  highly  beneficial  to  the  world  at 
large  than  the  itinerant  labors  of  the  unworthy 
author.  May  Heaven's  best  blessing  ever  accom- 
pany the  perusal  of  the  u  Foot-Prints  i" 

"Foot-prints  which,  perhaps,  another 
Sailing  o'er  life's  solemn  main, 
A  forlorn  and  shipwrecked  brother, 
Seeing,  shall  take  heart  again." 

Maxwell  P.  Gaddis. 
West  End,  Dayton,  Ohio,  August  3,  1855. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER   I. 

NATIVITY—  EMIGRATION  —  GEAVES  OF  A  HOUSEHOLD 

Birth — Ancestry — Emigration — Ship  Stafford — Sickness — Death  of  my 
two  little  brothers — Burial  at  sea— Painful  reflections — A  mysterious  dis- 
pensation— Anchorage  in  the  Delaware — Death  of  a  twin  babe — Settle- 
ment in  Pennsylvania, — Removal  to  Ohio — Death  of  my  eldest  sister  and 
her  husband  in  Indiana — Burial-places  of  the  departed  members  of  the 
family — "  Graves  of  a  household  " Page  31 

CHAPTER  II. 

INCIDENTS    CONNECTED    WITH    MY    EARLY    LIFE. 

Removal  from  Delaware — War — Enlistment  of  my  brother  Robert — 
Five  years'  campaign — Artillery  company — Light  dragoons — Painful  sepa- 
ration— Anguish  of  my  mother — Her  subsequent  conduct — Removal  to 
Ohio — Never  meets  her  son  again — Wonderful  providences 35 

CHAPTER   III. 

SCHOOL-TEACHING. 

A  mother's  solicitude — Difficulties  overcome — Her  indefatigable  ex- 
ertions— First  effort  at  teaching  school — Licensed  to  teach  "common 
schools" — Attended  college — Health  very  poor  —  Clerkship — Book-keep- 
ing— Engaged  in  teaching  a  large  school — Ruled  them  by  prayer — "Glen 
Cottage  " — Bishop  Bascom — An  amusing  scene — "  Barred  out  " — Rev. 
William  H.  Lawder — His  first  public  exhortation — A  mother's  prayers — 
Family  scene — Taught  to  sing  Mr.  Wesley's  hymns 40 

CHAPTER   IV. 

METHODIST     CAMP     MEETING. 

Seceders — Their  strong  prejudices — Parents  members  of  Seceder  Church 
in  Pennsylvania — Introduction  of  Methodism — Camp  meeting — Curiosity 
of  my  brother  to  attend — Opposition  of  my  parents — Opinion  of  the  Meth- 
odist people  generally— My  brother  finally  concluded  to  attend— His 
awakening — Mourners'  bench — Happy  conversion — His  unwillingness  to 
return — Conduct  of  my  father — A  visit  to  the  encampment — His  feelings 


14  CONTENTS. 

on  approaching  the  ground — Listens  to  one  sennon — His  unkind  treat- 
ment of  my  brother — Their  sad  return  home Page  45 

CHAPTER   V. 

C  O  X  Y  E  P.  S  I  O  X     OF     M  T     31  0  T  H  E  E  . 

Persecution  of  my  brother  John — Displeasure  of  my  mother — Her  fears 
for  the  reputation  of  the  family — Steadfastness  of  my  brother — Forbidden 
to  attend  the  Methodist  meetings — A  period  of  painful  solicitude — Resort 
to  prayer — Increasing  spiritual  vigor — A  Methodist  prayer  meeting  at  M. — 
Time  of  deliverance — Forbidden  to  attend — Submission  to  parental  au- 
thority— Retires  for  secret  prayer — Indignation  of  my  mother — Starts  for 
the  prayer  meeting — Hears  a  voice  at  prayer  in  the  barn — Listens  for 
a  moment — Recognizes  the  voice  of  my  brother — Trembles  before  the 
Lord — Hastens  to  the  house — Deeply  convicted  for  sin — Sleep  departs 
from  her  eyelids — Cries  aloud  for  mercy  upon  her  bed — Alarm  of  my 
father — Awakes  my  brother — Desires  to  have  a  physician  called — Jesus 
appears  to  save — Conversion  of  my  mother — Her  shouts  of  victory — Its 
effect  upon  my  father 49 

CHAPTER   VI. 

SHOCTISG     IX     CHUECH. 

Scene  at  family  prayers — Shouting  a  breach  of  decorum — Subsequent 
conduct  of  my  father — Attendance  of  my  mother  at  her  own  Church — 
Shouts  aloud  for  joy — Consternation  of  the  minister  and  private  mem- 
bers— Speedy  termination  of  the  service — An  unusual  occurrence — Effect 
upon  others — Shouting  at  home — Shouts  again  at  Church — Her  minister 
unable  to  proceed — Mortification  of  my  father — Rejoicing  among  the 
Methodists — A  similar  scene — Cries  of  '-Order!  order!" — Elders  called 
upon  to  remove  her  from  her  pew  in  vain — Congregation  dismissed  in 
great  confusion — Cited  to  trial  for  disorderly  conduct — Her  fears  and  fer- 
vent appeals  to  the  throne  of  grace — Trial  and  acquittal — Attends  a  class 
meeting — Obtains  a  letter  of  dismissal  from  the  Seceders — Joins  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1316 55 

CHAPTER   VII. 

OEIGIX    AXD     PEOGEESS    OF    METHODISM    IN    EIPLET. 

Family  discussion  on  Christian  experience — Controversy  on  Calvinism — 
The  doctrine  of  free  grace — Removal  to  Ohio  in  1817 — Settled  on  Eagle 
creek— Preaching  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Fitch — Sermon  by  Rev.  James 
Havens  on  free  grace — Change  in  my  father's  views  on  theological  sub- 
jects— His  union  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Rev.  Isaac  Pa- 
ver— Names  of  the  members  of  the  first  class  on  Eagle  creek — Rev.  H.  B. 
Basconi,  leader — Rev.  John  Meek — A  sketch  of  Ripley — First  class — John 
Gaddis,  leader — First  Methodist  sermon  and  first  burial — Rev.  John  Col- 
lins       63 


CONTENTS.  15 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MY      CONVERSION. 

Camp  meeting  in  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  in  1824 — Parting  scene  at  the 
gate — Exhortation  of  my  mother — My  object  in  going — The  number  of 
our  little  band — The  kindness  of  the  late  Johnston  Armstrong — Its  happy 
influence  on  my  youthful  mind — Powerful  preaching — Prayer  meeting  for 
mourners — My  curiosity  to  witness  the  scene — The  means  employed  to 
bring  me  to  Christ — The  thought  of  final  separation  from  family  in 
heaven — Approach  to  the  altar — Long  struggle  without  relief — Tempta- 
tion of  the  enemy — How  I  obtained  the  victory — Kindness  of  a  beloved 
brother — Prayers  of  my  mother — Conversion  of  my  brother  William — My 
own  deliverance — Tbe  importunate  prayers  of  my  mother  at  home — The 
answer  in  ber  own  heart — Our  return  and  the  subsequent  joy Page  70 

CHAPTER   IX. 

CALL     TO     THE     MINISTRY. 

Call  to  the  ministry — Licensed  to  exhort — Rev.  W.  Allen  and  Elijah  H. 
Field — Form  of  my  first  license — Unwillingness  to  bear  the  cross — Com- 
pelled to  exhort  against  my  will  at  Georgetown — Rev.  B.  Westlake — Sick- 
ness— Entered  college — Health  failed — Returned  to  business  pursuits  to 
drown  my  convictions — Made  known  my  conviction  of  duty  to  Rev.  P. — 
Unkappin&ss  of  mind  increased  daily 77 

CHAPTER    X. 

C  A  31  P     MEETING     SCENE. 

Rev.  W.  B.  Christie— Rev.  J.  B.  Finley— Rev.  H.  B.  Bascom— Arrival  at 
the  camp-ground — Rev.  B.  Westlake — Arrival  of  tent-holders — Appearance 
of  a  storm — Appropriate  hymn — B.emarkable  answer  to  prayer — An  infi- 
del awakened — Sketch  of  Christie — His  style  and  manner  of  preach- 
ing      82 

CHAPTER   XI. 

SCENES    AT    A    FASHIONABLE    WATERING-PLACE. 

A  visit  to  the  Lower  Blue  Licks,  in  Kentucky — Shocking  profanity  of 
the  visitors — Card-playing — A  mock  class  meeting — The  peculiar  charac- 
ter of  the  exercises — Sudden  and  melancholy  death  of  two  of  the  princi- 
pal actors — The  degraded  condition  of  another  when  last  seen  or  heard 
from — A  visit  to  Cincinnati — A  happy  meeting  with  my  first  school- 
teacher, Dr.  V. — A  pleasure-trip  to  Wheeling — Cholera  on  the  Ohio — 
Deaths  in  Wheeling — Passengers  all  refused  to  land — Went  ashore  at 
Steubenville  and  spent  the  Sabbath — Returned  home  by  the  way  of  Cadiz, 
Cambridge,  Zanesville,  and  Chillicothe — Sickness  at  the  "crossings  of 
Ohio  Brush  creek  " — Arrival  at  West  Union — A  good  class  meeting — 
Happy  frame  of  mind — Safe  return  to  R. 93 


16  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XII. 

FIRST    RELIGIOUS    EXERCISES    I  If   PUBLIC. 

Engaged  as  book-keeper  at  Ohio  Brush.  Creek  Forge — Parting  words  of 
my  sister  during  the  prevalence  of  the  cholera  at  R. — Healthy  location  of 
the  Forge — How  I  was  first  introduced  as  an  exhorter — Exhorted  nearly 
every  Sabbath — The  kindness  shown  me  by  the  Forgemen — Visiting  the 
sick — Miud  harassed  continually  on  the  subject  of  preaching — Licensed 
to  preach,  through  mistake,  at  tbe  Hopewell  meeting-house — Singular 
manner  in  which  it  was  discovered — My  first  effort — The  effects  result- 
ing— A  mysterious  providence  explained — "  No  man  having  put  his  hana 
to  the  plow,  and  looking  back  " Page  98 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

REMARKABLE    CONVERSION    OF    A    YOUNG    LADY. 

Conversion  of  Miss  W. — Her  subsequent  despondency — Despairs  of  the 
mercy  of  God — Her  rapid  decline — Last  sickness — Gracious  deliverance — 
Happy  death — Funeral  Sermon  by  Rev.  John  Meek — A  powerful  awaken- 
ing— Success  of  my  efforts — Commenced  keeping  a  diary — Happy  frame 
of  mind — Trials  and  temptations — Licensed  regularly  as  a  local  preacher 
by  Rev.  Leroy  Swormstedt,  in  1835. 103 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

HAPPY  DEATH  OF  MY  FATHER. 

Sickness  of  my  dear  father — His  strong  confidence — An  affecting 
scene — His  dying  benedictions — His  cloudless  prospect — Freedom  from 
the  power  of  temptation — Death  struggle — "  A  hard  day's  work  " — 
"Roughest  of  the  journey  over  " — Last  conversation  with  a  friend — "  I  am 
Christ's  free  man" — Peaceful  death — A  solemn  funeral — Sudden  death 
of  Dr.  V.  with  cholera,  at  Cincinnati — The  grief  of  his  family — Refusal  to 
occupy  the  homestead — My  own  lonely  condition — Ravages  of  the  cholera 
at  West  Union — Extracts  from  diary — Preached  at  Saterfield's — Opened 
the  doors  of  the  Church  for  the  first  time — God  gave  me  one  soul  as  the 
"  first  fruits  " — A  few  weeks  afterward  caught  three  more  "fish  "  of  great 
promise 108 

CHAPTER  XV. 

REMARKABLE    PREMONITION. 

Built  a  stone  church  with  a  subscription  of  ninety  dollars — Singular 
occurrence  at  Saterfield's  meeting-house — Went  prepared  to  preach  from 
a  certain  text,  but  was  obliged  to  speak  from  another  without  a  moment's 
time  to  prepare — Sudden  death  soon  after — His  funeral  sermon — An  ex- 
planation of  the  remarkable  circumstances  connected  with  his  sickness 
and  death 115 


CONTENTS.  17 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

MY     FIRST     CIRCUIT. 

Refused  a  recommendation  to  the  annual  conference — One  to  be  sup- 
plied on  West  Union — Informed  that  I  was  expected  as  the  supply — Re- 
fused to  go — Another  employed  to  fill  it — Dissatisfaction  on  the  circuit — 
Consented  to  travel  at  the  first  quarterly  meeting — Went  down  to  Ripley 
to  commence — Much  embarrassed  and  discouraged  soon  after  my  arrival — 
A  remarkable  dream  about  fishing — Its  influence  on  my  mind — Private 
interview  with  my  mother — Her  affectionate  counsel — The  covenant — Its 
happy  influence  upon  my  future  ministry Page  120 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

EXHOETATIOX  BEFORE  SERMON. 

Embarrassed  state  of  feeling  at  my  second  appointment — Exhortation 
before  preaching — Eavesdropping  of  an  aged  minister — Death  of  a  class- 
leader's  wife  at  E. — Happy  state  of  feeling  in  the  audience  after  her  inter- 
ment— The  Spirit  grieved  by  boasting  of  victory — Upbraided  for  not  open- 
ing the  doors  of  the  Church  at  one  of  my  appointments — Changed  my 
practice  soon  afterward — A  singular  dream — The  good  resulting  from  it — 
History  of  little  Henry — His  presentiment  of  death — His  funeral  ser- 
mon— Message  to  his  class-mates 126 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE     CONTRAST. 

A  triumphant  death-bed — Her  last  exhortation — The  Bible  adapted  to 
every  condition — A  midnight  scene  at  the  dying  bed  of  a  young  lady — 
"Griere  not  the  Spirit  of  God" — How  hard  it  is  to  die  without  religion — 
Delay  dangerous — Awakening  and  conversion  of  a  young  lady  at  R. — 
The  unexpected  messenger — Her  happy  death  and  thanks  to  her  pas- 
tor     134 

CHAPTER   XIX. 

REMARKABLE    DEATHS—  31  YSTEKIOUS    FAMILY. 

Terrifying  death  of  an  intimate  acquaintance — The  fatal  warning — A 
vision  of  heaven  and  hell — The  "gnawings  of  the  worm  that  never 
dies " — The  horrors  of  the  death-chamber — Ruling  passion  strong  in 
death — Untimely  death  of  a  young  man  engaged  to  be  married — Preached 
for  him  when  dying  till  his  speech  and  sight  failed — Buried  on  the  day 
appointed  for  the  nuptials — "  Be  ye  also  ready" — Mysterious  family.  140 

CHAPTER    XX. 

THE    SUICIDE. 

The  fatal  results  of  intemperance — A  broken  constitution — Warned  of 
bis  death — Convinced  that    religion  was    necessary — A  troubled  con- 

2 


18  CONTENTS. 

science— Embraces  Umversalisni — Preaches  in  the  market-house — Threat- 
ens to  destroy  himself — Blows  his  brains  out  with  a  horse-pistol — Bloody 
scene  in  an  upper  room Page  150 

CHAPTER   XXI. 

WEST    UNION    CIRCUIT. 

Case  of  delirium  tremens  at  R. — The  appearance  of  the  devil  thret 
times — The  conflict  the  last  night — The  Bible  a  defensive  weapon  liter- 
ally on  that  occasion — A  scene  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church — 
Strange  recital  by  the  alarmed  inebriate — Continued  to  carry  the  Bible 
for  a  long  time — Camp  meeting — Great  revival — Preaching  at  midnight — 
An  imposing  procession — Blowing  of  the  trumpet — Alarm  of  the  un- 
godly— Success  of  the  meeting — Closing  scene  the  next  morning — Sketch 
of  Ripley — Origin  of  Methodism— First  class 157 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

SCIOTO    CIRCUIT. 

Rev.  John  Collins  preacher  in  charge — Members  in  West  Union — Par 
Bonage — Scioto  and  Brush  Creek  circuit  records — Quarterly  collections — 
H.  B.  Bascom  recommended  to  annual  conference — Steward's  book  of 
Scioto  circuit — Preacher's  salary 162 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

WHITE    OAK    CIRCUIT. 

Appointed  to  White  Oak — My  feelings  when  commencing  my  work — . 
Prayer  in  the  rear  of  the  church  at  F. — Preached  the  funeral  of  a  Uni- 
versalist — Great  revival  at  Zdt.  Zion,  in  the  spring  of  1837 — Rev.  John 
Miley — Took  our  dinners  at  the  church — Meeting  continued  ten  days-  174 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

REVIVAL    OF    RELIGION    IX    A    SCHOOL- ROOM. 

Regular  exercises  suspended — Sentiments  written  by  the  young  ladies — 
Happy  conversion  of  a  large  majority  of  the  pupils 177 

CHAPTER   XXV. 

CONVERSION*    OF    A    SCHOOL-TEACHER    FROM    VERMONT. 

Prayer  for  the  unconverted — My  visit  at  G. — The  power  of  truth- 
Awakening  of  Miss  W. — The  efficacy  of  a  sister's  prayers — Her  wish  to 
become,  a  Methodist — Opposition  of  her  friends — Public  union  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Instrumental  in  converting  others 180 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE     TIMELY     WARNING. 

Calvary  meeting-house — Strange  impressions  while  preaching — Power- 
ful strivings  of  the  Holy  Spirit— The  effects  resulting— A  conversation  of 


CONTENTS.  19 

a  gentleman  and  lady  at  the  close  of  sermon — Their  mutual  fear — His 
sudden  death  a  few  hours  afterward — Her  happy  conversion  and  union 
with  our  Church — Noble  conduct  of  a  young  man  at  Big  Indian  camp- 
ground— Farewell  meeting  at  F. — Numbers  in  society — Rev.  John  W 
Clarke  and  his  family Page  184 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

WEST    CHESTER    CIRCUIT    IN    183  7. 

Interview  with  brother  Christie  at  Milford — Conflict  at  Sharon — Great 
victory — First  sermon  on  West  Chester — Happy  frame  of  mind  while 
preaching — Rev.  J.  J.  Hill — Society  at  Montgomery 1SS 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

REVIVAL    AT    MONTGOMERY. 

Commencement  of  the  work  of  God  at  Montgomery — Conversion  and 
union  with  the  Church  of  a  father,  son,  and  two  daughters — Strange  con- 
duct of  our  enemies — Conversion  of  the  leader  of  the  band — Disorderly 
conduct — Arraigned  before  the  civil  authorities — Progress  of  the  work  in 
other  places — Revival  at  Company  Mills — The  reconciliation — Numbers  in 
society 193 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

THE    MERCHANT'S    DAUGHTER. 

Awakening  of  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy  merchant — Conversation  in 
love-feast — Opposition  of  her  father — Forbidden  to  attend  our  Church — A 

great  trial — Mr. threatened  to  whip  me — Great  excitement  in  the 

village — A  visit  to  his  store — The  attack — The  happy  result — No  blood 
shed — Substance  of  the  conversation — Sounding  a  retreat 198 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER  —  CONTINUED. 

Attachment  to  R. — Conduct  of  the  father — Manner  of  holding  inter- 
course— Deaf  and  dumb  alphabet — The  disowned — Cruel  treatment — De- 
parture from  home — Subsequent  marriage — Death  of  their  first-born — Un- 
natural conduct — Her  union  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Death 
of  her  mother 203 

CHAPTER    XXXI. 

DEBATE    ON    UNIVERSALIS  31. 

An  interesting  debate  at  New  Richmond — Hon.  David  Fisher  and  Rev. 
Robert  Smith — Rev.  D.  Parker,  the  restorationist — An  amusing  scene- 
Close  of  the  debate — Victory  of  Mr.  Fisher — A  noble  concession  from  Rev. 
Robert  Smith 211 


20  CONTENTS. 

CHATTER   XXXII. 

SABBATH     DESECRATION. 

Morality  of  the  Universalists — Sabbath  desecration  at  It — Arrest  of 
Mr.  F.— Trial  before  Mr.  D.— The  result— Coasting  of  Rev.  R.  Smith- 
Running  the  saw-mill  at  night— Strategy  of  my  colleague — His  success — 
Another  trial  of  the  olfenders— The  saw-mill  stopped — Legal  suasion  suc- 
ceeds well  occasionally — Destroying  Bible— Singular  manner  of  preparing 
for  debate— Last  a  count  of  Rev.  Robert  Smith — His  renunciation  of  Uni- 
versalism Page  218 

CHARTER    XXXIII. 

FEARFUL     CONSEQUENCES    OF    OBSTINATELY     RESISTING 
THE    H  OLY    SPIRIT. 

Awakening  of  a  great  sinner — His  opposition  to  the  Church — Persecu- 
tion of  his  wife — Subdued  by  the  power  of  God — Otters  himself  for  mem- 
bership— Looks  back — The  sequel 223 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

31   Y      FIRST      STATION. 

A  good  beginning — A  joyful  spirit — An  unpleasant  occurrence  at  a 
funeral — Happy  New  Year — Revival — "I  will  still  go  on" — Health  de- 
clining— Answer  to  prayer — Sick-bed  repentance — Danger  of  deception — 
"  Laying  aside  the  weights  " — Joy  cometh  in  the  morning 227 

CHAPTER   XXXV. 

PRACTICAL    AMALGAMATION-. 

A  remarkable  case  of  deception — Marriage  ceremony  from  home — Prac- 
tical amalgamation — Thecheat  discovered — Mystery  unvailed — Divorce — 
Another  case  of  the  same  kind — Depart  are  of  the  husband — Hlness  of  bis 
bride — Physician  called — Her  life  in  danger — Rebukes  of  conscience — 
How  the  deception  was  first  developed — Long  absence  of  the  husband — 
Return  and  final  separation  of  the  parties 233 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

EASTERN    CIIAi:i:i:,     wr.-I.r.  Y     CHAPEL,    CINCINNATI. 

A  visit  to  my  mother — An  affecting  incident  at  W. — Her  last  sickness 
and  sudden  death  after  my  departure— Her  burial  at  R. — Visit  to  her 
grave  at  twilight — My  guardian  angel — Last  visit  to  her  sepukher — Beau- 
tiful poetry— Return  to  Cincinnati — The  covenant— A  great  blessing — 
BbOm filled  witfa  the  Divine  gtarft-Ser.  A.  I  arroll—  Conversion  <>f  Mr. 
S 238 


CONTENTS.  21 

CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  MY  DUET  AT  WESLEY  CHAPEL 

Happy  frame  of  rnind  after  the  fifth  of  December,  1839 — Cloudless 
sky — Copious  extracts  from  diary — An  unction  from  the  holy  One — Great 
revival — Two  hundred  mourners — Watch-night — Temptation — Rev.  J.  N. 
Matfitt — Centenary  mammoth  love-feast  at  Wesley — Fifty-seven  joined— 
One  thousand  communed  at  our  sacrament — Funeral  sermon  of  my 
mother,  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Trimble — Beautiful  extract Page  249 

CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

FUNERAL  SERMON  OF  E.  BEAGDON,  M.  D. 

Death  of  Dr.  Bragdon,  son  in-law  of  Rev.  John  Collins — Requested  to 
preach  his  funeral  sermon  at  Salem — Dream  on  the  night  previous — Text 
selected  by  himself — Compelled  to  preach  without  preparation — Help  in 
time  of  need — The  happy  results   254 

CHAPTER   XXXIX. 

MAFFITT'S    LETTERS  —  A    VISIT    TO    BALTIMORE. 

Letters  from  Maffitt  at  Maysville — A  visit  to  Baltimore  in  1810 — Gen- 
eral conference — Traveling  on  Sabbath — A  visit  to  my  brother  in  the  state 
of  Delaware — Sanctified  affliction — Return  trip — Interesting  letter  from  a 
Baltimorean — Sweet  letter  from  an  invalid  minister 262 

CHAPTER   XL. 

WESLEY    CHAPEL  —  CLOSE    OF    MY    FIRST    YEAR. 

Close  of  the  year — Severe  sickness— Enjoyed  much  of  the  Divine  good- 
ness— Farewell  sermon — Five  hundred  admitted  into  full  connection- 
Conference  at  Zanesville — Sermon  from  Bishop  Hedding — Ordained  an 
elder,  and  returned  to  Wesley  Chapel  the  second  year  with  Rev.  E.  W.  S& 
hon,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  Isaac  Ebbert,  D.  D. 278 

CHAPTER   XLI. 

WESLEY    CHAPEL  —  SECOND    YEAR. 

New-Year's  resolutions — Revival  at  Wesley  Chapel — Sermon  from  Pro- 
fessor Biggs — A  visit  to  Goshen — Extract  from  diary,  March  5, 1841 — Good 
meetings — Growth  in  grace — Visit  to  Urbana — Rev.  W.  B.  Christie — Revi- 
val in  progress — Hundreds  converted — Calling  the  roll — Return  to  Cincin- 
nati— An  impostor — Rev.  John  Hardy— The  late  General  William  Henry 
Harrison  among  the  mourners — A  thrilling  scene 274 

CHAPTER  XLII. 

WORTHINGTON    FEMALE     SEMINARY    AND    ASBURY    ACADEMY. 

Agency  for  Worthington  Female  Seminary  and  Asbury  Academy,  at  Par* 
kersburg,  western  Virginia—Extracts  from  diary — Religious  enjoyments— 


22  CONTENTS. 

Bishop  Waugh — Rev.  Thomas  Sargent,  of  Baltimore — Good  love-feast  at 
the  capital — Rev.  Joseph  M.  Trimble,  D.  D. — A  visit  to  Parkersburg — Large 
subscription  fur  Asbury  Academy — Return  on  the  Ohio — Revival  at  Ports- 
mouth— Great  Revival  at  Chillicothe — A  touching  incident — Isaac  Cook, 
Esq. —  His  connection  with  the  Church  —  A  letter — Poetry — Sudden 
death *P 

CHAPTER   XL II I. 

21  Y    AGENCY  —  CONTINUED. 

Revival  at  Circleviile — Three  hundred  converted — Rev.  Joseph  H. 
Creigbton — J.  C.  Bontecou,  pastor — Great  revival  at  Columbus — Religious 
influence  in  the  Seminary — Marriage  of  Rev.  D.  P.  Kidder,  D.  D.,  to  the 
Principal,  Miss  Harrietta  Smith — Miss  Eveline  Smith,  <now  Mrs.  Loniis,) 
teacher  of  music — Success  of  my  agency — Great  revival  at  Xewark,  Ohio- 
Rev.  Cyrus  Brooks 293 

CHAPTER   XLIV. 

VISIT    TO    THE    DYING    EED     OF    AX    ITlIKKAIf. 

Lateresting  conversation — Religious  experience — Marked  characteris- 
tics of  Rev.  I.  C.  Hunter — Rev.  M.  Dustin's  letter — Closing  scene 301 

CHAPTER   XLY. 

dox't  come  heee  to  beg. 

A  truthful  narrative — "Don't  come  here  to  beg :! — Epitaphs  in  an  old 
graveyard 309 

CHAPTER  XL  VI. 

A    VISIT    TO    THE    SPEISG5    IX    V  I  E  G  1  X  I  A  . 

Kanawha  Salines — Burning  Spring — Tomkin'a  Weil  nine  hundred 
feet  deep — Hawk's  Xest — Blue  Sulphur  Springs — Chaplaincy — Sickness — 
Preaching — Lewisburg-  Rev.  B.  H.  Xadal— White  Sulphur  Springs — Two 
days'  meeting — Sweet  Springs — A  pleasant  retreat — An  acquaintance 
from  Ohio 312 

CHAPTER   XLY  1 1. 

JOYFUL     DELIVEEAXCE. 

Great  freshet — An  affecting  scene — Imminent  peril  of  a  brother  and 
sister — Machine  swept  off  by  the  flood  in  the  night — Lashed  to  a  tree — 
Excitement  in  the  neighborhood— Unsuccessful  efforts  to  rescue  them — 
Painful  suspense — Deliverance  at  last  effected — Their  great  joy 316 

CHAPTER    XLY  III. 

A      WOED      IX      S   E   A   S   0   X  . 

A  word  fitly  spoken — A  heavy  cross — A  rich  reward — Conversion  of  my 
young  companion  at  the  Springs — His  happy  state  of  mind — Correspond- 
ence   319 


CONTENTS.  23 

CHAPTER   XLIX. 

OONFEBENCE    AT    HAMILTON — S  UP E E A X X U A TI 0 N. 

Close  of  my  agency — Generous  offer  of  Mr. ,  at  Columbus — William 

Neil,  Esq. — Appointed  to  Columbus — Motion  of  Rev.  William  H.  Raper — 
Superannuated  relation — Unwillingness  to  acquiesce — Return  to  Cincin- 
nati— Great  revival  at  Ripley,  Ohio — Temporary  agency  for  Wortbington 
Female  College — Cburcb  extension — Plan  defeated — Started  soutb — Trust 
in  God — Peace  as  a  river Page  323 

CHAPTER    L. 

THE    SUNNY    SOUTH. 

My  southern  visit — Sickness  at  Louisville — Kindness  of  Rev.  H.  H.  Kav- 
anaugh — The  Kentucky  giant — Exercises  of  mind  on  the  water — Cairo — 
Life-preserver — An  affecting  scene — Extracts  from  my  diary — Last  day  of 
the  year — Preaching  on  the  steam-boat  at  the  request  of  the  passengers — 
New  Orleans — First  emotions— Rev.  Curtis— Rev.  William  Nicholson— My 
first  Sabbath  in  the  Crescent  City— Sacrament — A  great  blunder— Military 
parade — Poydrass-Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 326 

CHAPTER   LI. 

IXCIDEXTS    AT    XEW    OELEAXS    A  X  D    MOBILE. 

Harry  Hill,  Esq.— Conversation  between  Hon.  Henry  Clay  and  Rev. 
Theodore  Clapp,  at  a  dinner  party,  on  the  subject  of  experimental  relig- 
ion— An  amusing  incident  at  the  inauguration  of  Governor  Moreton — 
Passage  to  Mobile  on  the  steamer  Fashion — Stormy  night — Accident — Safe 
arrival  in  port — Dedication  sermons  by  Rev.  L.  Pierce  and  Rev.  E.  W.  Se- 
hon — Sermon  by  Dr.  L.  Pierce  against  Millerism — An  unfortunate  mis- 
take— Brandy  at  Sacrament — An  argument  in  favor  of  the  Maine  law — 
"I  6hall  die  in  my  nest!" 334 

CHAPTER  LII. 

THE     RECOMPENSE. 

The  consumptive — A  stranger  in  a  southern  clime — Her  last  sickness — 
Her  need  of  a  Savior — Deep  conviction  for  sin — Earnest  supplication- 
Happy  deliverance — Joyful  departure — "  It  was  you  that  pointed  to  the 
Savior'' — The  recompense — Return  to  New  Orleans — Home  to  Cincin- 
nati— Labors  and  travels  during  the  summer  season — Conference  at  Chil- 
licothe 341 

CHAPTER    LIII. 

GEEEXFIELD    STATIOX,    HIGHLAND    COUNTY. 

Stone  church — Injurious  to  my  health — Brick  aisles — Need  of  repair — 
obtained  permission  to  commence  the  work — The  sleepers  much  de- 
cayed— A  new  floor — Altar  carpeted — Church  reopened — A  good  revival — 


24  CONTENTS. 

Souls  converted — Severe  illness — Health  very  poor — Close  of  my  labors — 
Numbers  in  society 345 

CHAPTER   LIV. 

HILLSBORO,      OHIO. 

My  first  year — Opening  sermon,  September  29,  184:4 — A  heart-warm 
welcome — Revival — Oakland  Female  Seminary — A  prosperous  year — 
Church  repaired — My  second  year — Commenced  labors  September  28, 
1845 — Health  poor — Erection  of  a  new  and  elegant  parsonage — Prayed 
much — Reproved  by  the  Spirit — "Was  not  disobedient  to  the  heavenly 
vision — God  blessed  me  in  so  doing — We  had  another  prosperous  year — 
"  A  visit  from  the  angels,"  or  the  first  ripe  fruits  of  Millerism  in  H. — 
Arrest  of  Mr.  H. — Trial  in  court — His  insanity  established — A  guardian 
appointed  to  manage  his  farm,  etc. — The  good  resulting 349 

CHAPTER  LY. 

A    VISIT    TO    THE    MILIEBITE    TABEESACLE. 

Delusion  of  Millerism — Large  canvas  tent— Millerite  tabernacle  in  Cin 
cinnati — Time  fixed — Last  warning  in  the  Midnight  Cry,  October  19, 
1844 — Extra  Midnight  Cry — "Behold,  he  cometh!" — My  visit  and  observa- 
tions on  that  exciting  occasion — Report  of  some  of  the  addresses — Time 
expired — The  Red  Sea — Miller's  reproof  to  his  followers 360 

CHAPTER  LVI. 

TEMPTATION    AXD    VICTORY. 

A  visit  to  Lexington — Quarterly  meeting  over — Strange  emotions — A 
great  desire  to  preach — An  opportunity  unexpectedly  granted — A  success- 
ful effort — Conversion  of  a  sinner — The  glory  of  God  revealed — Victory — 
Happy  frame  of  mind,  and  safe  return  to  H. — Oakland  Female  Semi- 
nary— Its  organization — Its  success—  Number  of  graduates — New  edi- 
fice— Name  changed  to  Hillsboro  Female  College — Rev.  Joseph  M'Dowell 
Mathews — His  ministerial  career  and  success  as  a  teacher — Church 
South — Separation — Beautiful  letter 364 

CHAPTER  LVII. 

THE    EFFECTS    OF    INTEMPERANCE. 

Terrible  death  by  poison — The  contrast — Happy  death  of  Mrs.  Mc. — 
Her  funeral  obsequies — Large  procession — The  strange  conduct  of  her 
husband — His  untimely  death  by  laudanum  immediately  after  the  fu- 
neral— His  funeral  the  next  morning — The  contrast 371 

CHAPTER  LVIII. 

BETHEL    CHAPEL,    THIRD    WARD,    CINCINNATI. 

The  mission— Preaching-room — Cassilly's  Row — First  meeting  after  con- 
ference— An  omen  for  good — Finishing  and  opening  of  the  new  church — 


CONTENTS.  25 

Printed  card  of  invitation  to  the  Gospel  feast — A  revival — Large  au- 
diences— Church  finished — A  card  of  public  acknowledgment  to  steam- 
boat captains — An  amusing  scene — Interruption  during  divine  service — 
Missionary  operations — A  noble  gift Page  378 

CHAPTER   LIX. 

A    YISIT    TO    THE    ESCULAPHN    SPEIXGS. 

Location  of  the  Springs — By  -whom  discovered — A  lady  ill  of  consump- 
tion— An  old  acquaintance — Eeligious  exercises — Interesting  experi- 
ence— Happy  death — Last  request 337 

CHAPTER    LX. 

WE5LEYAN    FEMALE     COLLEGE  —  MY    LAST    AGENCY. 

Its  origin — Organization — Stock  plan — Charter — Agencies — Rev.  P.  B. 
Wilber— Prospects— Prosperity 393 

CHAPTER   LXI. 

THE    G  E  A  V  E    OF    E  E  V  .    WILLIAM    B.    CHRISTIE. 

A  visit  by  moonlight — The  monument — Its  inscription — Recollections 
and  painful  emotions — Hope  of  the  resurrection — Beautiful  lines  by  Mrs. 
Catharine  Walker 400 

CHAPTER  LXII. 

MOEEIS    CHAPEL    AND    PAEK-STP.  EET. 

Appointed  to  Morris  Chapel — Rev.  William  Herr,  preacher  in  charge — 
Sermon  in  Morris  Chapel  on  behalf  of  Park-Street — Text — Plan  or  out- 
lines of  the  sermon — Collection — Laying  of  the  corner-stone — Speeches 
by  Drs.  Simpson  and  Tefft — A  good  collection — Cholera — Its  ravages — 
Difficulties  in  the  way  of  my  success — Hard  toiling — Donation  of  one 
hundred  dollars,  missionary  money — Death  of  the  donor  soon  afterward — 
Kindness  of  members  of  Morris  Chapel — Marriage,  May  1,  1349,  at  Day- 
ton— Joys  and  sorrows — Life  a  mixed  scene 406 

CHAPTER   LXIII. 

A    WAESIXG    TO    BACK.SLIDEES. 

Interesting  correspondence — Letter  I — Letter  H — Letter  HI 41G 

CHAPTER  LXIV. 

COLUHBIA-STEEET    CHAEGE,    SPEINGFIELD. 

Springfield  station — Opening  sermon — Sheep  scattered — Sermon  from 
Psalm  lxxxviii,  14 — Sinners  awakened — A  gracious  revival — Health  de- 
clines in  the  spring — Attended  the  anniversary  of  the  Sabbath  School 
Union  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Cincinnati — Taken  violently 
sick — Unable  to  return  home  for  more  than  two  weeks — Returned  to  the 
station  a  second  year — Success  attending  the  first  effort — Another  glorioug 

3 


26  CONTENTS. 

revival — Prepared  and  published  the  "Ohio  Conference  Offering" — A  visit 
to  Detroit — Preached  at  Monroe  during  the  session  of  the  Michigan  con- 
ference—Last session  of  the  old  Ohio  conference,  held  at  Springfield  my 
last  year — The  Cincinnati  conference — Its  boundaries,  etc. — Death  of 
brother , — His  baptism — Address  to  his  wife,  etc. Page  42G 

CHAPTER    LIT. 

SPEIXGFIELD, 

Its  first  settlement — First  sermon  in  a  tavern — Organization  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church — First  church  edifice,  1814 — Second  church — 
High-Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Female  College  and  Springfield 
High  School — Teachers — Beautiful  location — Fine  college  buildings — 
Prosperity  and  future  prospects — Jesus  the  foundation  of  my  hope — The 
philosophic  Doctor  excited — A  hatless  mourner,  etc. 430 

CHAPTER  LXVI. 

PIQUA    STATION,    MIAMI    COUNTY. 

Painful  sense  of  physical  inability — Spitting  blood  daily — Kind  recep- 
tion— First  quarterly  meeting — Good  prospect — Gradual  ingathering — 
Watch-night — Sermon  at  midnight — A  solemn  scene — Close  of  the  year — 
Reading  the  Scriptures — HaPP}*  deaths — Flourishing  Sabbath  school — 
Congregations  large  and  attentive  during  the  summer — Close  of  the  con- 
ference year — A  good  missionary  collection — Attended  conference  at 
Xenia — Returned  to  Piqua  with  Rev.  W.  J.  Thurber  as  my  colleague-  436 

CHAPTER   LXYII. 

NEVER    GO    AWAY    WITHOUT    PEAYEE. 

A  consistent  life — Holiness  professed  and  enjoyed — God  glorified — 
"  Firm !  firm !  firm  in  the  Lord !" 440 

CHAPTER    L XV III. 

"NOT   yet,   sir." 

The  death-bed  of  a  professed  infidel — Deep  interest  manifested  by  his 

friends  for  his  conversion — Confession — Interview — Strange  conduct  of 

the  wife— Last  prayer— His  death 443 

CHAPTER    LXIX. 

MY    LAST    CHARGE  —  PIQUA    STATION,     SECOND    YEAR. 

A  good  commencement — New  church  enterprise — Discouragements — 
Trial  of  faith — "What  art  thou,  0  great  mountain?  before  Zerubbabel 
thou  shalt  become  a  plain  " — Dangerous  illness — A  remarkable  vision — 
Its  happy  effects  on  my  mind — Sermon  from  a  visiting  brother  on  Christ- 
mas— Disappointment  in  the  evening — Obliged  to  preach  without  prepara- 
tion— Overruled  for  good — Preached  twice  the  same  night — God  blessed 
his  word— Faith  of  the  Church  increased 447 


CONTENTS.  27 

CHAPTER    LXX. 

FUNERAL    OF    A    PIOUS    YOUNG   LADY. 

Funeral  sermon — Text,  "  What  are  these  arrayed  in  white  robes  ?  and 
whence  came  they?" — Incidents  of  her  life — Happy  experience — Tri- 
umphant death Page  454 

CHAPTER    LXXI. 

WATCH-NIGHT    AND    SECOND    QUARTERLY    MEETING. 

A  good  watch-night  meeting — Second  quarterly  meeting  commenced 
the  day  following — Outlines  of  my  sermon  at  night,  on  1  Corinthians  xvf 
58 — Exhortation  by  brother  Meharry — Mourners  at  the  altar — Signs  of  a 
powerful  revival — Rev.  W.  H.  Lawder  and  Rev.  Callender  present — Work 
progresses  every  day — Hundreds  converted  to  God — Singular  mode  of  in- 
viting penitents  to  the  altar — Three  hundred  added  in  the  mouth  of  Jan- 
uary    457 

CHAPTER  LXXII. 

REVIVAL  INCIDENTS  —  A  LOVELY  SCENE. 

Baptism — Communion-season — Meeting  of  the  young  converts  alone — 
An  overpowering  scene 461 

CHAPTER    LXXIII. 

REVIVAL    INCIDENTS  —  CONTINUED. 

Dedication  of  the  new  church — Last  sermons  preached  in  Piqua — A 
visit  to  New  York  and  Brattleboro — Return  to  conference  at  H. — Farewell 
to  my  brethren — "  My  last  charge  " — Letter  to  Dr.  Elliott 465 

CHAPTER  LXXIV. 

CITY     OF    PIQUA. 

Piqua  City — Origin  of  Methodism — Names  of  the  first  class — Letter 
from  Col.  John  M'Lean — Subscription-paper  to  build  the  first  church  in 
Piqua — Numbers  in  society  in  1824 — Address  of  a  pioneer  lady  to  her  sis- 
ters on  Miami  circuit — Original  letter  of  Rev.  Moses  Crume — Autograph 
letter  of  Rev.  James  M'Gready,  Logan  county,  Kentucky,  1804 — Colonel 
M'Lean 469 

CHAPTER  LXXV. 

EX-GOV.    TRIMBLE    AND    THE    THIEF. 

*'I  have  never  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging 
bread  " — Robbery  of  Cottinger — Singular  detection  of  the  thief — His  cap- 
ture by  the  Governor — Imprisonment — Singular  escape — An  old  man  in 
distress — Mystery  solved 483 


28  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  LXXVI. 

A    TEIP    ALONG    THE    BORDERS    OF    MY    SECOND    CIRCUIT. 

Interesting  reminiscences — North-western  territory — Rev.  Geo.  Brown- 
Origin  of  circuits — Old  preaching-places — Description  of  backwoods  life — 
Rev.  B.  Lakin,  a  pioneer — Hopewell  meeting-house — Minutes  of  old  Mi- 
ami circuit 489 

CHAPTER  LXXVII. 
herron's  seminary. 
Mr.  Herron's  early  life— His  success  as  a  teacher — His  connection  with 
the  common  schools  of  Cincinnati — Professor  in  Cincinnati  College — Open- 
ing of  a  private  seminary — Present  condition  and  prospects  of  said  Semi- 
nary— Corps  of  instructors — Character  as  a  Christian —  Ohio  Wesleyan  Fe- 
male College,  Delaware — Eligibility  of  the  site — Advantages  of  such  a  loca- 
tion from  its  connection  with  the  University — Purchase  of  grounds — Arti- 
cles of  Association — Terms  and  vacations — Rev.  C.  D.  Burritt,  of  Oneida 
conference,  Principal 502 

CHAPTER  LXXVIII. 

OHIO    WESLEYAN    UNIVERSITY. 

Action  of  the  Ohio  conference  in  regard  to  the  proposition  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Delaware  in  reference  to  the  Sulphur  Springs  property — Dr.  Elli- 
ott's report — Appointment  of  a  board  of  commissioners — Relation  of  the 
Church  at  that  time  to  the  cause  of  education — Organization  of  a  board 
of  instruction — Zeal  of  Methodist  preachers — Present  prosperous  condi- 
tion of  the  University — Professor  Merrick's  graphic  description — Fac- 
ulty— Terms  and  vacations 508 

CHAPTER  LXXIX. 

METHODISM     IN     DAYTON. 

Location  of  the  town — Arrival  of  the  first  families  in  1796 — Organiza- 
tion of  Montgomery  county — Erection  of  a  Presbyterian  church — Extracts 
from  the  old  Register  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church — Preface  to  the 
Stewards'  Book — Preaching  in  private  houses — Bishop  Asbury — Preachers 
appointed  to  Mad  River  circuit — Extracts  from  the  journal  of  Rev.  John 
Kobler — Subscriptions  for  the  erection  of  a  church — Appointment  of  trus- 
tees— Erection  of  a  new  house  of  worship — An  additional  church — Subse- 
quently supplied  by  a  new  one — Third  Methodist  church  in  Dayton — 
Erection  of  a  new  edifice  on  the  site  of  the  old  one 517 

CHAPTER   LXXX. 

ORIGIN     OF     THE     METHODIST     EPISCOPAL     CHURCH     IN 
U  R  B  A  N  A  . 

One  of  the  strongholds  of  our  western  Zion — First  pioneer  preacher — 
Organization  of  class — Erection  of  a  log  church — Methodism  the  pioneer 


CONTENTS 


29 


religion — Characteristics  of  Methodism — Erection  of  a  new  church — In- 
teresting reminiscences — Progress  in  church  building — Urbana  station  a 
favorite  appointment — Organization  of  a  new  charge Page  532 

CHAPTER  LXXXI. 

XENIA    FEMALE    SEMINARY    AXD    COLLEGIATE    INSTITUTE. 

Enterprise  of  the  citizens  of  Xenia — Origin  of  Methodism  in  Green 
county — Opposition — Success — Educational  interests — Other  denomina- 
tions— Transfer  of  tbe  Seminary  to  the  Cincinnati  conference — Seminary 
edifice  and  Boarding  Hall — Corps  of  instructors— Number  of  pupils — Ad- 
vantages enjoyed  by  the  Church  for  education 535 

CHAPTER  LXXXII. 

CONCLUSION. 

Aggressive  spirit  of  Methodism — Moral  conflict — Resources  of  the 
Church  in  Ohio  —  Missions  —  Boussard,  the  pilot — Bonaparte's  visit 
across  the  desert  to  Egypt — Thrilling  incident — The  good  time  com- 
ing      540 


FOOT-PRINTS  OF  M  ITINERANT. 


CHAPTER    I. 

NATIVITY  —  EMIGRATION  —  GRAVES  OF  OUR 
HOUSEHOLD. 

I  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  state  of  Pennsylvania, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  of  Lancaster,  September  9, 
1811.  My  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  and  were 
born  in  the  county  of  Down,  province  of  Ulster.  My 
father,  Robert  Gaddis,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Frazier,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  eighty-nine.  I  was  the  youngest  child.  My 
parents  had  thirteen  children,  ten  boys  and  three  girls. 
Five  of  my  brothers  and  two  sisters  were  born  in  Ireland, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy  and  were  buried  in  Ireland. 

My  parents  embarked  on  the  ship  Stafford,  which  sailed 
from  AYarren's  Point,  May  10,  1801.  The  vessel  was 
crowded  with  emigrants;  and,  unfortunately,  either  from 
the  ignorance  or  neglect  of  the  commander  and  pilot, 
sailed  out  of  her  regular  course.  In  consequence  of  this 
unexpected  detention,  her  " provision  stores"  and  supply 
of  "fresh  water"  were  both  nearly  exhausted  a  long  time 
before  her  arrival  in  port.  The  crew  and  passengers 
were  all  on  "'short  allowance "  for  several  weeks  before 
they  heard  the  joyful  sound  of  "land  ahead."  This  was, 
no  doubt,  the  primary  cause  of  much  physical  suffering 
among  the  unfortunate  passengers.  And  to  make  their 
situation  still  more  distressing,  the  Stafford  was  visited 
with  a  fatal  malady.     The  yellow  fever  and  bloody  flux 


32  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

raged  among  all  classes  on  board  with  fearful  malignity. 
Two  of  my  little  brothers  fell  early  victims  to  the  flux, 
which  raged  with  great  virulence  among  the  children. 
The  eldest  was  three  years  and  the  youngest  only  twelve 
months  old.  As  there  was  only  a  few  hours  difference 
in  the  period  of  their  deaths,  they  were  both  buried  at 
the  same  time.  This  was  a  heavy  stroke  upon  my  dear 
mother.  During  her  whole  lifetime  I  have  no  recollec- 
tion that  I  ever  heard  her  speak  of  their  last  sickness 
and  gloomy  "burial  at  sea/'  without  shedding  tears 
For  a  short  season  her  agony  was  almost  insupportable 
She  thought  that  she  would  not  be  able  to  endure  the 
mournful  sight  of  seeing  her  beloved  ones  cast  into  the 
deep  sea,  to  become  food  for  the  voracious  sharks,  which 
were  daily  seen  following  in  the  ship's  wake.  But  the 
solemn  hour  at  length  arrived,  and  the  "innocents,"  with 
bags  of  sand  tied  to  their  little  feet,  were  cast  into  the 
deep,  deep,  blue  sea!  0,  who  can  portray  the  anguish  of 
a  mother's  heart  at  a  moment  like  this?  I  have  often 
heard  my  mother  recall  this  sad  event  to  mind  in  the 
family  circle.  It  was  to  her  a  mysterious  dispensation, 
that  she  never  was  able  to  comprehend.  The  picture  of 
that  awful  scene,  with  its  terrible  imaginings,  seemed  to 
lay  heavy  upon  her  heart  till  she  died.  I  have  frequently 
heard  her  remark  that  it  was  the  most  bitter  cup  Provi- 
dence ever  presented  to  her  lips. 

After  a  perilous  voyage  of  nearly  thirteen  weeks,  they 
cast  anchor  in  the  Delaware  river,  some  time  in  the  month 
of  August.  Not  long  afterward,  my  parents  located  on  a 
small  farm  in  Delaware.  Here  God  called  them  to  part 
with  another  one  of  their  tender  offspring-  a  twin  babe, 
only  a  few  months  old.  My  parents  moved  from  thence 
into  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1817  emigrated  to  Ohio.  They 
now  lie  side  by  side  in  the  old  burying-ground  of  Ripley, 
on  the  banks  of  the  La  Belle  Riviere.     My  eldest  sister 


GRAVES    OF    OUR    HOUSEHOLD.  33 

moved  to  Indiana,  and  raised  a  large  family.  Herself  and 
husband  died  a  few  years  ago  of  typhoid  fever  on  the 
same  day,  and  are  buried  in  the  same  grave,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Misschututuck,  in  Scott  county.  Eight  of 
our  household  are  now  numbered  with  the  dead,  and 
widely  severed  in  their  places  of  repose — two  in  the 
"Emerald  Isle,"  and  two  more  beneath  the  blue  waves 
of  the  Atlantic;  one  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,  in 
the  east,  and  another  in  the  west,  while  the  remains  of 
my  beloved  parents  rest  in  Ohio. 

While  stationed  at  H.,  in  preaching  a  sermon  on  the 
"resurrection  of  the  dead,"  I  alluded  to  the  above  facts, 
and  rejoiced  in  the  hope  of  meeting  them  all  again  in 
glory.  A  young  lady  of  fine  poetical  talents  was  there  on 
a  visit.  Soon  after  her  return  home  to  W.,  she  composed 
and  sent  me  the  following  beautiful  and  descriptive  lines 
on  the  "burial-place"  of  my  parents,  four  brothers,  and 
two  sisters : 

THE    GRAVES   OF   A   HOUSEHOLD. 

BY   MISS   M.   C.   D. 

Peace,  peace  to  her  slumbers !    She,  too,  is  at  rest 

Where  her  heart  shall  know  sorrow  no  more ; 
We  have  placed,  sadly  placed  the  green  turf  on  her  breast 

As  we  placed  it  on  others  before ! 
Yet,  afar  are  the  graves  of  our  dear  kindred  band, 

And  the  soft  tear  of  sorrow  we  shed 
As  our  thoughts  onward  fly  to  a  far-distant  land, 

Where  slumber  our  earliest  dead. 

0,  green  isle  of  Erin !  thou  emerald  isle, 

To  our  hearts  is  thy  memory  dear, 
Though  the  lip  has  left  off  its  accustomed  smile, 

And  the  eye  has  since  gathered  the  tear ! 
We  have  treasured  a  thousand  remembered  ties— 

We  have  gazed  on  thy  skies  of  blue — 
We  have  thought  of  thy  children's  affectionate  eyes, 

And  their  high  deeds  of  daring,  too  I 

0  say,  does  a  footstep  e'er  linger  in  love, 

Or  a  kind  hand  e'er  scatter  the  flowers — 
Do  the  stars  look  lovingly  from  above 

On  those  far-distant  graves  of  ours  ? 


34  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

They  are  ours  forever,  though  years  have  passed  by 

Since  we  gazed  on  that  island  of  green : 
They  are  ours  forever,  though  many  and  high 

Are  the  waves  that  roll  darkly  between. 

0,  sad  was  the  day  when  we  bade  thee  adieu, 

"Where  our  kindred  yet  tranquilly  sleep, 
"When  over  the  waters  the  gallant  ship  flew, 

As  if  proud  of  her  home  on  the  deep : 
Yet  our  hearts,  as  we  thought  of  those  desolate  graves, 

Still  sadder  and  heavier  grew, 
When  beneath  us  was  naught  but  an  ocean  of  waves, 

And  around  us  a  heaven  of  blue. 

Few  days  had  passed  by  and  we  stood  on  the  deck, 

When  the  daylight's  first  blushes  are  born; 
Above  us  in  heaven,  not  even  a  speck 

Disturbed  the  calm  beauty  of  morn; 
Yet  sadly  we  gazed  on  the  heaven  of  blue, 

And  mournfully  down  in  the  deep, 
As  on  like  a  sea-bird  the  buoyant  ship  flew, 

Scarce  rousing  the  waves  from  their  sleep. 

For  death  was  among  us — the  young  and  the  gay 

Lay  down  in  their  beauty  and  died; 
And  we  grieved  that  the  ocean  should  name  them  her  prey, 

As  tbey  peacefully  slept  side  by  side. 
But  the  plunges  that  followed  the  coffins  that  sped 

Far  down  in  the  depths  of  the  sea, 
Will  haunt  us  forever,  like  ghosts  of  the  dead, 

Wherever  our  wanderings  may  be. 

Green  fields !    0  ye  numbered  our  earliest  graves, 

As  ye  witnessed  our  earliest  woes, 
And  within  jour  far  depths,  0  magnificent  waves, 

As  many  more  sadly  repose! 
But  the  murmuring  streams  of  the  wide-spreading  weBt, 

Have  mingled  our  griefs  with  their  own, 
And  we  placed,  like  sad  exiles,  the  turf  on  their  breast, 

And  left  them  to  slumber  alone ! 

The  dead  of  a  household !    0  separate  far 

Do  the  loved  of  our  household  repose ! 
Yet,  hope  o'er  those  graves,  like  the  light  of  a  star, 

Its  beam  of  soft  radiance  throws ! 
We  know  not  how  long  till  the  dawn  of  that  day, 

When  the  dead  shall  be  with  us  again ; 
But  we  know  that  the  ocean  shall  yield  up  his  prey, 

And  the  earth  strive  to  hold  hers  in  vain! 


EARLY    LIFE.  35 

CHAPTER    II. 

INCIDENTS    CONNECTED   WITH   MY   EARLY   LIFE 

In  the  year  1803  my  father  left  the  state  of  Delaware, 
and  moved  into  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  During  the 
late  war  with  Great  Britain,  my  oldest  brother  "  volun- 
teered," and  attached  himself  to  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  August  13,  1812.  This  was  a  source  of  great 
unhappiness  to  my  parents,  especially  to  my  mother,  who 
used  all  the  means  in  her  power  to  prevent  it.  He  first 
served  as  a  private  in  Captain  31.  Swett's  United  States 
corps  of  Artillery,  for  two  years,  and  then  served  three 
years  in  a  company  of  United  States  Light  Dragoons. 
He  was  engaged  in  many  severe  battles,  and  was  twice 
wounded  during  the  war;  first,  by  a  cannon-ball,  in  the 
muscle  of  the  right  thigh,  and  afterward  on  the  right  foot, 
by  the  sword  of  a  British  officer,  during  a  desperate  ren- 
counter. After  serving  out  his  time — with  honor,  as  his 
papers  will  show — he  was  discharged  from  the  service  of 
the  army  of  the  United  States,  on  the  third  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1817.  This  was  done  at  the  headquarters  of  the 
military  department,  on  Long  Island.  His  parchments 
are  signed  by  John  Biddle,  Assistant  Inspector  General, 
and  certified  as  a  correct  copy  of  the  original  by  Isaac 
Warrell,  acting  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  Philadelphia,  Oc- 
tober 28   1817. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  portray  the  feelings  of  my 
mother,  at  this  trying  moment.  In  the  providence  of 
God  she  was  unexpectedly  called  to  part  with  her  first- 
born, to  fight  the  battles  of  his  newly-adopted  country. 
He  had  long  been  the  idol  of  her  heart.  The  thought  of 
separation  was  painful ;  beyond  the  power  of  language  to 
describe.     The  much-dreaded  moment  at  length  arrived. 


36  FOOT-PRINTS   OF  AN  ITINERANT. 

Mounted  upon  his  horse,  beautifully  clad  in  military 
style,  she  follows  him  to  the  gate  leading  directly  into 
the  highway.  He  halts  for  a  moment  j  dismounts  from 
his  prancing  steed,  while  the  tears  are  flowing  freely. 
Not  a  word  is  spoken,  as  the  parting  kiss  of  affection  is 
given.  An  audible  prayer  is  offered :  u  God  bless  my 
dear  child,  and  return  him  in  honor  and  safety  to  a 
mother's  fond  embrace  again  \"  The  last  sad  farewell  is 
spoken,  and  soon  his  manly  form  is  borne  beyond  the 
sight  of  her  eyes,  but  not  without  the  circle  of  a  mother's 
prayers.  Upon  that  spot,  already  consecrated  by  parental 
tears,  she  kneeled  in  fervent  prayer,  to  commend  him  to 
the  care  of  her  heavenly  Father,  and  then  returned  to 
comfort  a  weeping  household.  0  the  bitterness  of  such 
a  parting !  What  days  of  gloom  and  nights  of  agony  are 
to  succeed  it,  Grod  only  knows. 

In  boyhood's  days  I  have  often  listened  to  the  heart- 
rending recital  of  my  mother's  woes  and  anguish  of  spirit, 
while  my  brother  was  exposed  to  danger  in  the  army. 
Sometimes  sleep  would  depart  from  her  eyes;  at  other 
times,  in  "visions  of  the  night,"  she  would  share  hia 
toils  and  rejoice  in  his  victories.  When  the  toils  of  the 
day  were  over,  and  the  children  asleep,  it  was  her  custom 
to  retire,  under  the  cover  of  night,  to  the  place  of  sepa- 
ration, to  "weep  alone" — to  spend  an  hour  in  prayer  for 
the  safety  of  her  beloved  son.  This  she  never  omitted, 
when  her  health  and  the  state  of  the  weather  would  allow. 
More  than  four  years  of  such  painful  watchings  and  anx- 
ious care  stole  the  fire  from  her  eye  and  the  rose  from  her 
cheek.  How  inscrutable  are  the  ways  of  Providence !  In 
the  spring  of  1817  my  parents  removed  to  Ohio.  My 
brother  was  dismissed  from  the  army  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  and,  returning  to  Frankford  and  not  finding 
my  parents,  he  married  and  settled  in  the  state  of 
Delaware,  and  remained  there  till  after  the  death  of  my 


EARLY    LIFE.  37 

mother.  She  always  greatly  desired  to  see  him  once 
more,  but  was  not  permitted.  She  never  ceased  to  re- 
member him  at  the  throne  of  grace,  while  living,  and 
died  in  the  fullest  confidence  of  meeting  him  and  all  her 
children  in  heaven, 

"  Where  care  awakes  no  lingering  groan, 
And  grief  no  agony." 

I  have  no  remembrance  of  the  time  when  I  was  without 
religious  emotions ;  I  always  wanted  to  be  a  Christian,  to 
serve  the  "  God  of  my  fathers  '*  from  the  days  of  my 
childhood.  I  have  no  recollection  of  ever  using  profane 
language  but  once,  and  then  I  was  awfully  afraid  I  would 
sink  down  to  hell.  The  "day  of  judgment"  filled  my 
young  mind  with  great  dread;  I  could  never  hear  it 
mentioned  without  offering  up  a  sincere  prayer,  that  I 
might  be  prepared  to  meet  it  with  joy.  These  convictions 
were  strengthened  every  year  by  some  very  remarkable 
providences  of  God  toward  me.  I  made  many  wonderful 
escapes  from  sudden  death  when  a  child,  and  some  when 
nearly  grown  to  manhood.  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  refer  to 
some  of  them,  simply  with  the  view  to  show  how  God 
"  careth  for  us."  When  about  nine  years  of  age,  I  made 
a  very  remarkable  escape.  In  company  with  my  brother 
William,  I  was  walking  leisurely  through  a  new  corn-field, 
looking  at  the  beautiful  pumpkins  which  were  now  nearly 
grown  to  full  size.  On  approaching  the  fence  near  a 
deep  hollow,  where  the  soil  was  rich  and  the  vines  of 
luxuriant  growth,  I  espied  under  the  edge  of  a  large  leaf, 
what  I  supposed  to  be  a  pumpkin  of  a  peculiar  form, 
with  most  singular  spots,  that  looked  very  beautiful  in  the 
rays  of  the  sun.  I  sprang  forward  and  seized  it  with 
botn  hands,  and  was  about  to  lift  it  from  the  ground, 
when,  to  my  surprise,  it  proved  a  living  reptile,  and 
instantly  uncoiling  itself,  it  shook  its  tail,  which  made  a 


38  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

sharp  rattling  sound  that  almost  frightened  me  out  of  my 
senses.  Letting  go  it  with  a  scream,  I  sprang  down  the 
hill,  and  ran  as  fast  as  I  could  for  some  distance.  My 
brother  followed  me,  and  we  returned  together  to  the 
house  and  told  all  that  had  happened.  At  first  the  family 
were  incredulous,  but  on  my  saying  that  I  could  point 
out  the  very  spot,  my  brother  Samuel  resolved  to  go  and 
make  war  with  the  strange  reptile.  He  then  went  out 
into  the  woods  and  cut  a  hickory  pole  about  eight  feet 
long,  sufficiently  flexible.  We  then  started  through  the 
field,  carefully  watching  our  footsteps,  till  at  length  we 
came  to  the  place,  and  my  brother  stealthily  approached, 
and  struck  it  more  than  twenty  times  before  it  ceased  to 
jump  and  rattle  its  tail.  He  brought  it  to  the  house. 
No  one  of  the  family  knew  what  to  call  it.  We  sent  over 
for  one  of  our  near  neighbors,  who,  when  he  came,  in- 
formed us  that  it  was  a  rattle-snake,  whose  bite  was 
almost  instant  death.  It  had  eight  or  nine  "rattles," 
and  measured  about  seven  feet  in  length.  I  shudder 
even  now  when  I  think  of  the  danger  to  which  I  was 
then  exposed;  and  ever  and  anon,  as  the  scene  comes  up 
before  me,  my  heart  swells  with  gratitude  to  my  gracious 
Deliverer.  At  one  time  my  face  was  within  about  twelve 
inches  of  the  fangs  of  this  deadly  serpent.  Another 
moment,  had  I  remained  within  reach  of  those  fangs,  my 
life  would  have  been  cut  off  suddenly  in  the  morning  of 
my  days.  "When  God  protects,  we  walk  unharmed  u  on 
snares  and  death."  When  only  about  twelve  years  of 
age,  I  was  assisting  two  elder  brothers  to  procure  some 
fire-wood.  We  lived  on  the  bank  of  a  creek,  and  just 
above  the  house  was  a  high  hill  from  which  the  wood  was 
generally  dragged  with  two  horses  and  a  log  chain.  I 
rode  the  near  horse  while  engaged  in  dragging  the  wood 
down  the-hill  side.  On  one  occasion  I  did  not  turn  the 
team  straight  down  the  hill,  and  the  log  commenced  roll- 


EARLY    LIFE.  39 

ing.  My  brothers  called  to  me  to  dismount  immediately, 
but  it  was  too  late.  The  chain  twisted  up,  and  both  of 
the  horses  fell  and  rolled  over  me  down  the  hill  about 
two  rods.  My  brothers  screamed  aloud  for  help.  They 
all  thought  that  I  was  crushed  to  death.  But,  thanks 
to  a  kind  Providence !  I  was  only  slightly  injured 
in  my  right  hand  and  arm.  The  " angels"  mercifully 
preserved  my  life.  They  were  most  certainly  near  at 
hand.  At  another  time,  while  attending  school,  one  of 
my  brothers  was  engaged  in  hauling  wood  with  a  yoke  of 
oxen  and  two  horses.  In  the  mornings  on  my  way  to 
school,  I  often  asked  the  privilege  of  driving  the  wagon 
for  him.  On  one  occasion  he  left  me  in  charge  of  his 
team,  and  passed  on  before  to  attend  to  some  business  in 
town.  Not  long  after  he  left  me  I  stopped  the  team  for 
the  purpose  of  washing  my  hands  in  the  mill  race,  a  short 
distance  from  the  town.  When  I  returned  to  the  team  I 
took  hold  of  the  lines,  and  was  about  to  take  my  seat  on 
the  wagon  tongue  just  behind  the  oxen,  the  usual  seat 
for  the  driver  in  managing  a  team  of  that  description. 
While  in  the  act  of  sitting  down  something  alarmed  the 
off  ox,  and  he  jumped  round  to  the  left,  which  caused  the 
tongue  of  the  wagon  to  strike  me,  and  in  a  moment  I  fell 
backward  over  the  tongue  of  the  wagon  upon  the  ground. 
This  frightened  the  horses,  and  the  team  moved  forward 
several  rods.  The  fore  wheel  of  the  wagon  passed  over 
my  chest,  a  little  below  my  arms.  I  turned  over  between 
the  fore  and  hind  wheels,  and  made  an  effort  to  extricate 
mj  body,  but  without  success.  The  hind  wheel  also  passed 
over  my  body,  and  slightly  bruised  my  right  thigh.  How 
strange  to  relate,  I  was  but  slightly  injured  !  I  was  able 
to  ride  home  in  the  wagon,  and  soon  resumed  my  studies 
again.  The  wagon  contained  more  than  a  cord  of  green 
wood — a  weight  sufficient  to  have  ground  me  to  pieces, 
Whose  hand  upheld  the  ponderous  load?     Who  delivered 


40  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

me  from  so  violent  a  death?     Was  I  not  rescued  by  the 
special  interposition  of  a  most  benignant  Providence? 

"  Angels,  where'er  we  go,  attend 
Our  steps,  whate'er  betide ; 
With  watchful  care  their  charge  defend, 
And  evil  turn  aside." 

Another  remarkable  instance  of  the  protecting  care  of 
God  I  experienced  only  a  short  time  before  I  commenced 
my  ministry.  While  residing  at  Brush  Creek  Forge,  I 
started  to  the  town  of  W.  on  horseback.  On  my  way, 
while  I  was  riding  rapidly  along  the  bank  of  Soldier 
Run,  I  noticed  a  path  near  the  edge  of  the  creek-bank, 
which  my  horse  seemed  much  inclined  to  take.  As  the 
road  was  muddy  I  favored  his  wishes,  and  traveled  for 
several  rods  in  a  brisk  trot  near  the  edge  of  the  bank. 
The  ground  was  soft,  and  on  a  sudden  my  horse's  feet 
slipped,  and  he  fell  over  the  bank  into  the  creek  below 
on  his  back,  crushing  my  saddle  nearly  to  pieces.  Just 
as  he  was  in  the  act  of  going  over  the  bank  I  disengaged 
my  feet  from  the  stirrups,  placed  both  my  hands  on  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle,  and  leaped  back  into  the  road  on 
my  hands  and  knees  with  the  most  surprising  activity 
and  power,  thus  escaping  without  harm. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SCHOOL-TEACHING. 

My  parents  were  anxious  to  give  to  each  one  of  their 
sons  the  advantages  resulting  from  a  good  education; 
but  it  was  difficult,  in  a  sparsely-settled  country,  to  give 
them  all  even  a  good  English  education.  My  dear  mother 
took  a  very  special  interest  in  my  own  mental  training, 
because  I  had  inherited  a  feeble  constitution.     She  knew 


SCHOOL-TEACHING.  41 

well  that  I  would  never  possess  very  strong  physical  pow- 
ers. •  She  was  often  devising  "  ways  and  means  "  to  favor 
her  own  wishes  in  securing  to  me  an  education  while 
young.  She  frequently  prevailed  on  father  to  send  me  to 
school  in  summer,  when  my  little  services  were  most 
needed  at  home,  on  the  farm.  The  school-teacher  seldom 
left  my  father's  house,  when  soliciting  pupils,  without  the 
promise  of  one  scholar,  at  least  for  a  small  fraction  of  the 
term.  She  would  often  remark  that  a  agood  education" 
would  be  of  more  value  to  me  than  gold  and  silver;  I 
could  then  provide  for  my  temporal  wants,  and  make  my- 
self useful  in  society. 

Through  her  indefatigable  exertions,  notwithstanding 
my  feeble  health  and  the  disadvantageous  circumstances 
surrounding  me,  I  was,  on  examination,  pronounced  com- 
petent to  take  charge  of  any  one  of  our  common  schools, 
before  I  had  entered  my  sixteenth  year.  However,  long 
previous  to  this  period,  I  learned  that  it  would  be  neces- 
sary for  me  to  support  myself  by  my  own  exertions. 

I  shall  never  forget  my  first  effort  at  school -teaching, 
I  had  just  entered  my  fifteenth  year.  I  commenced  in 
an  old  waste-house,  down  in  a  deep  "  hollow  glen."  I 
there  collected  from  the  neighborhood  a  few  boys  and 
girls,  during  the  latter  part  of  summer,  and  instructed 
them  in  u  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,"  for  the  sum 
of  two  dollars  a  scholar  for  the  term  of  three  months. 
The  next  summer  I  traveled  over  thirty  miles  distant,  on 
foot,  and  after  being  duly  examined  in  the  town  of  H., 
received  license  to  teach  a  "common  school"  in  the 
neighborhood,  about  twenty-four  miles  from  the  residence 
of  my  parents.  In  the  year  1828  I  was  again  licensed, 
by  the  Rev.  John  Rankin,  examiner  of  common  schools 
for  the  county  of  B.;  and  in  1829  by  Rev.  Thomas  Wil- 
liamson, M.  D.,  of  the  town  of  R. 

By  pursuing  this  course,  I  obtained  means  to  enter  col- 
4 


42      FOOT -PRINTS  OF  AN  ITINERANT. 

lege  in  1830;  but  before  the  close  of  my  first  collegiate 
year,  I  was  compelled  to  desist  altogether,  for  «i  time, 
from  my  studies,  in  consequence  of  ill  health.  This  has 
always  been  to  me  a  source  of  deep  regret.  In  1S32-8 
I  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits;  in  183-4-5,  as  a 
book-keeper  at  the  Ohio  B.  C.  Forge. 

At  one  time  I  had  charge  of  a  very  large  school  in  the 
country.  In  this  school  I  found  many  unruly  boys  and 
young  men  who  were  hard  to  govern.  I  was  young  and 
inexperienced,  and  often  at  a  great  loss  to  know  what 
course  to  pursue.  I  prayed  much  in  secret,  and  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  help  me  in  my  daily  duties.  I  at  length 
concluded  to  pray  night  and  morning  in  my  school-room, 
with  the  scholars.  I  found  this  was  the  best  means  to 
govern  them — the  "  fear  of  the  Lord." 

At  one  time  I  taught  a  select  school  on  Eagle  creek,  a 
short  distance  from  "  Grlen  Cottage,"  the  residence  of  the 
father  of  the  late  Bishop  Bascom.  Among  my  pupils 
were  James,  Samuel,  and  Hannah  Houk  Bascom,  the 
youngest  children  of  father  Bascom.  My  stay  in  this 
neighborhood  was  pleasant  and  profitable  to  my  soul. 

The  next  winter  I  taught  in  an  adjoining  district. 
During  the  holidays  the  scholars  "barred  me  out,"  as 
it  was  called  in  that  day,  and  resolved  to  compel  me  to 
" treat"  them  to  three  bushels  of  apples  and  a  keg  of 
good  cider.  This  was  an  amusing  scene.  On  going  to 
the  old  log  house,  I  found  the  doors  and  windows  all 
closed  and  "  barred"  with  the  long  benches.  I  asked  ad- 
mission, but  was  refused.  In  a  few  minutes  I  was  handed 
a  paper,  stating  the  terms  upon  which  they  would  open 
the  door  for  my  reception.  I  replied  that  it  was  no  part 
of  my  contract  to  feed  my  scholars  on  apples  and  cider. 
At  this  they  all  laughed  most  heartily,  and  replied  that 
it  was  a  matter  of  no  consideration  with  them  whether 
I  had  " agreed"  to  do  so,  or  not;  they  were  determined 


SCHOOL-TEACHING.  43 

to  coerce  me  to  a  "treat"  before  I  entered  that  school- 
house.  I  then  turned  round  and  started  off.  "There — 
there  I"  cried  one,  from  within,  "look  out !  he  is  coming 
down  the  chimney."  I  thought  they  need  give  them- 
selves no  uneasiness  on  that  score,  as  the  red  flame  was 
rising  some  six  feet  or  more  above  the  top  of  it.  I  re- 
solved to  leave  them  in  undisputed  possession  of  the 
house  and  premises,  and  started  for  home.  I  had  not 
proceeded  far,  however,  when  they  opened  the  doors  and 
started  after  me,  like  a  pack  of  well-trained  bloodhounds. 
I  took  refuge  at  the  nearest  house,  but  they  soon  entered 
the  door-yard,  and  demanded  that  I  should  be  given  up. 
Mrs.  "W.  then  went  to  the  door  and  remarked  that  her 
house  was  "  free  for  the  scholars,  as  well  as  their  teacher." 
At  this  they  gave  her  three  cheers,  and  then  some  of 
the  largest  boys  came  in  with  a  long  rope,  and  declared 
that,  unless  I  complied  with  their  wishes,  they  would  tie 
me  hand  and  foot  and  carry  me  back  to  the  school-house, 
and  keep  me  there  till  I  surrendered.  I  placed  myself 
behind  the  back  of  a  chair,  and  showed  signs  of  defense 
that  kept  them  at  bay  for  more  than  one  hour.  I  was 
excited,  and  determined  that  I  would  not  yield,  let  the 
consequences  be  what  they  should.  At  this  crisis  some 
of  my  patrons  came  along  and  acted  the  noble  part  of 
mediators.  A  compromise  was  effected  by  procuring  them 
some  apples,  without  the  cider,  which,  with  a  recess,  the 
balance  of  that  day,  gave  general  satisfaction  to  the  small 
children,  as  well  as  the  larger  ones,  who  made  them- 
selves merry  over  the  affair  the  balance  of  the  term. 

In  this  school  I  often  exhorted  the  larger  pupils  to 
Assist  me  in  keeping  good  order  among  the  smaller  and 
more  refractory  scholars.  This  plan  worked  admirably. 
At  times  I  had  between  sixty  and  seventy  scholars,  and 
but  few  books  to  classify  them  with,  which  made  the 
profession  of  teaching  much  more  laborious  than  at  the 


44  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AX    ITINERANT. 

present  time.  While  teaching  in  the  town  of  R., 
Rev.  "William  II.  Lawder  made  his  first  effort  at  exhorta- 
tion to  the  pupils  of  my  school,  in  1831.  I  had  some 
happy  seasons  in  recommending  religion  to  my  scholars; 
and  after  I  entered  the  ministry,  I  generally  availed  my- 
self of  every  suitable  opportunity  to  visit  the  schools 
within  the  hounds  of  my  circuit,  or  station,  and  say  a  few 
words  to  the  children  upon  the  subject  of  early  piety. 

Mj  dear  mother  not  only  manifested  an  interest  in  my 
mental  improvement,  but  evinced  a  still  deeper  solici- 
tude for  my  spiritual  welfare.  She  had  endeavored,  by 
precept  and  example,  to  influence  her  children  to  walk 
with  her  in  the  "ways  of  wisdom."  It  was  her  daily 
custom  to  pray  for  all  her  children  in  secret,  two  and 
sometimes  three  times  each  day.  When  she  would  retire 
to  pray  in  secret,  she  would  often  cause  me  to  accompany 
her,  and  then  pray  to  God  to  make  me  early  in  life  the 
subject  of  converting  grace,  and  if  it  was  his  will,  to  call 
me  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  I  can  even  now  recall  to 
mind  seasons  when  I  was  made  the  subject  of  special 
prayer  and  most  affectionate  importunity.  Frequently 
when  father  would  be  offering  up  the  morning  and  even- 
ing sacrifice,  mother  would  come  softly  and  kneel  by 
my  side  and  bathe  my  youthful  neck  with  her  tears,  and 
pray  to  God  to  give  me  a  "  new  heart"  before  the  "evil 
days  should  come,  and  the  years  draw  nigh  in  which  I 
could  take  no  pleasure."  She  taught  me  to  reverence 
the  Sabbath,  to  love  the  Holy  Bible,  and  to  pray  at  least 
twice  each  day.  She  was  a  charming  singer,  and  taught 
me  when  but  a  child  to  sing  many  of  Mr.  Wesley's  most 
beautiful  hymns. 

•'Ah,  "well  do  I  remember  those 
Whose  tones  no  more  I  hear, 
Who  round  the  hearth-stone  used  to  close, 
After  the  evening  prayer." 


METHODIST    CAMP    MEETING.  45 

CHAPTER    IV. 

METHODIST    CAMP    MEETING. 

About  twelve  months  prior  to  the  removal  of  my 
father's  family  to  this  state,  an  almost  entire  revolution 
was  effected  in  the  religious  sentiments  of  several  mem- 
bers of  the  household.  My  parents  and  grandparents 
were  educated  according  to  the  "strictest  sect"  of  the 
Seceders,  a  respectable  body  of  Christians  still  quite  nu- 
merous in  Ireland  and  Scotland.  They  hold  the  rigid 
dogmas  of  the  Calvinistic  school  with  great  pertinacity. 
Originally  they  were  austere  in  their  manners,  and  very 
rigid  in  their  Church  discipline.  It  is  said  that  when 
George  "Whitefield  visited  Scotland,  he  was  solemnly  rep- 
robated by  them,  because  he  refused  to  confine  his  labors 
wholly  to  them.  The  reason  assigned  for  this  monopoly 
of  the  labors  of  this  eloquent  divine,  was  that  they  were 
exclusively  "God's  people !"  Mr.  Whitefield  replied  they 
had  therefore  less  need  of  his  services,  for  his  aim  was 
to  turn  sinners  to  righteousness  by  preaching  to  them  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation.  At  an  early  period  of  their 
history,  they  had  little  or  no  fellowship  with  other  denom- 
inations, and  less  charity  for  professing  Christians  gener- 
ally. Their  prejudices  were  strong  against  the  people 
called  Methodists.  My  father  and  mother,  and  also  their 
children,  had  what  is  technically  called  "a  birthright 
membership "  in  the  Seceder  Church.  From  childhood 
in  their  native  land,  they  had  been  taught  to  regard  the 
Methodists  as  poor,  deluded  fanatics.  In  this  country, 
my  parents  could  not  look  upon  them  with  any  degree  of 
toleration.  But,  like  many  even  at  this  day,  although 
entirely  ignorant  of  their  sentiments  and  peculiar  usages, 
they  seemed  to  take  delight  in  persecuting  them.     My 


46  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AX    ITINERANT. 

mother  "  verily  thought  she  was  doing  God  service/' 
when  she  taught  her  children  to  shun  them  upon  all 
occasions.  My  venerated  father,  at  that  time,  was  also 
true  to  his  own  Church  principles  of  exdusiveness.  I  do 
no  injustice  to  his  memory,  or  to  the  Church  of  which 
he  was  a  member,  to  record  here  that  at  one  period  of 
his  life  he  was  at  a  loss  to  know  which  was  really  the 
greatest  crime,  to  hear  the  Methodists  preach,  or  to  sincr 
Dr.  Watts's  hymns.  Indeed,  he  was  often  heard  to  thank 
God  most  devoutly  that  he  had  never  been  guilty  of  sing- 
ing the  hymns  of  Doctor  Watts,  or  of  Charles  and  John 
Wesley.  But  now  let  us  trace  the  workings  of  a  myste- 
rious Providence.  In  the  year  1816  a  Methodist  camp 
meeting  was  appointed  contiguous  to  the  residence  of  my 
father.  This  was  a  source  of  great  grief  to  my  parents 
and  the  members  of  the  Seceder  Church,  who  had  a  re- 
spectable society  in  that  region  of  country  at  that  time- 
As  the  period  for  holding  this  meeting  in  the  "grove" 
approached,  my  brother  John  became  very  anxious  to 
attend.  After  much  importunity,  he  finally  succeeded 
in  obtaining  the  consent  of  my  parents.  He  started  to 
the  meeting  early  on  Saturday  morning,  with  strict  in- 
junctions to  return  at  an  early  hour  the  same  evening,  so 
as  to  accompany  the  family  to  their  own  Church  on  the 
following  Sabbath. 

My  brother  was  prompted  to  go  simply  from  a  love  of 
novelty.  He  had  long  desired  to  witness  with  his  own 
eyes  the  peculiar  mode  of  worship  and  movements  of  this 
strange  sect,  now  "every- where  spoken  against."  He 
was  not  willing  to  let  so  favorable  an  opportunity  pass  by 
unimproved.  But  0,  what  condescending  grace  is  often 
manifested  to  such  poor,  deluded  sinners!  Although  "he 
went  to  scoff,  he  remained  to  pray."  Under  the  preach- 
ing of  the  first  sermon,  he  was  "cut  to  the  heart,"  and 
that  same  evening  constrained  by  the  Spirit  of  God  to  go 


METHODIST    CAMP    MEETING.  47 

to  the  "mourners'  bench."  He  cried  out,  as  did  one  of 
old,  "Jesus,  thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me."  He 
did  not  cry  in  vain.  Early  that  same  night  he  found 
peace  in  believing  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  His  cup 
of  rejoicing  was  full,  and,  like  Saul,  he  continued  among 
the  prophets  shouting  and  praising  Grod  for  giving  him 
"another  heart."  Such  was  the  ecstasy  of  his  "new-born 
soul,"  that  he  entirely  forgot  the  promise  made  to  his 
parents,  to  return  home  on  Saturday  night.  The  Lord 
had  spread  a  table  in  the  wilderness,  "a  feast  of  fat 
things."  "Men  did  eat  angels'  food."  "As  the  apple- 
tree  among  the  trees  of  the  wood,  so  is  my  beloved  among 
the  sons.  I  sat  down  under  his  shadow  with  great  de- 
light, and  his  fruit  was  sweet  to  my  taste.  He  brought 
me  to  the  banqueting-house,  and  his  banner  over  me  was 
love."  This  was  the  experience  of  my  brother  on  that 
occasion.     He  could  not  consent  to  return  home;  he  felt 

"  Loth  to  leave  the  place 
Where  Jesus  shows  his  smiling  face." 

The   Sabbath   dawned  and  found  him  in  the  midst  of 

the   young    converts,    engaged    as   a  missionary  for   his 

Redeemer, 

■  Telling  to  sinners  round 
What  a  dear  Savior  he  had  found." 

The  intelligence  was  soon  conveyed  to  the  residence 
of  my  father,  by  one  of  the  nearest  neighbors,  whose  son 
had  accompanied  my  brother  to  the  encampment.  The 
news  at  first  was  like  an  "idle  tale."  Father  would  not 
credit  the  strange  announcement  that  his  son  John  had 
joined  the  Methodists,  and  professed  to  be  converted. 
He  also  stated  that  he  knew  my  brother  had  been  too 
well  educated  to  join  the  fanatical  society  of  Methodists 
in  that  neighborhood.  However,  soon  after  the  depart- 
ure of  the  messenger  who  had  brought  this  unwelcome 
news,  he  became  uneasy,  and  finally  concluded  to  go  to 


48  FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  camp-ground  and  inquire  into  this  strange  affair. 
He  requested  Mr.  Ardery,  my  brother-in-law,  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  to  accompany  him.  Mr.  A.  very 
readily  consented.  I  have  often  heard  him  remark  that 
but  few  words  passed  between  them,  as  they  "journeyed 
forward"  through  the  lone  woods  to  the  place  of  the 
camp  meeting.  My  father  seemed  absorbed  in  deep 
meditation  —  his  mind,  no  doubt,  alternating  between 
fear  and  hope.  As  they  drew  near  the  ground,  "  the 
voice  of  salvation"  was  heard  in  the  tents  of  Israel. 
The  woods  seemed  vocal  with  the  "new  song  of  the  re- 
deemed." My  father  halted  on  his  staff  for  some  min- 
utes, and  then  said:  "Mr.  Ardery,  there  is  the  shout 
of  a  king  among  them  I"  My  brother-in-law  was  struck 
with  the  remark,  and  made  no  reply.  My  father  ap- 
peared deeply  moved  with  the  scene  before  him.  For  a 
few  moments  he  was  excited  even  to  tears.  Just  as  they 
entered  the  area  of  tents,  the  trumpet  sounded  for  public 
service  at  the  stand.  At  the  solicitation  of  Mr.  A.,  my 
father  concluded  to  remain  and  hear  "what  this  bab- 
bler had  to  say."  Mr.  A.  was  very  anxious  to  see  what 
influence  the  sermon  would  produce  upon  my  father's 
exasperated  feelings.  The  minister  who  spoke  was  com- 
paratively a  young  man;  yet  he  was  a  noble  "workman, 
rightly  dividing  the  words  of  truth."  The  sermon  was 
attended  with  wonderful  displays  of  the  power  of  God. 
Before  the  close  of  the  discourse,  my  father's  prejudices 
partially  gave  way,  and  he  was  melted  into  tears  and  seemed 
much  excited  for  some  time  afterward.  At  the  close  of 
the  services,  they  searched  among  the  crowd  till  they 
found  my  brother  John.  Father  immediately  inquired 
if  the  report  which  had  reached  home  that  morning  was 
true?  He  replied,  without  hesitancy,  in  the  affirmative  $ 
and  then  informed  my  father  that  he  had  not  only  joined 
the  Church,  but  had  experienced  a  "change  of  heart." 


CONVERSION     OF     MY     MOTHER.  49 

At  this  father  became  much  enraged,  and  told  him  he 
was  truly  sorry  that  he  had  ever  raised  a  son  that  should 
disgrace  his  family  in  that  manner.  He  started  my 
brother  homeward  at  the  point  of  his  cane,  resolving  in 
his  own  mind  to  bring  the  whole  affair  to  a  speedy  term- 
ination. But  on  the  way  home  he  had  time  for  more 
mature  reflection.  He  pondered  it  all  over  and  over 
again  in  his  own  mind,  and  finally  concluded  to  say  or 
do  nothing  hastily,  "lest  haply  he  should  be  found  to 
fight  even  against  God." 


CHAPTER  V. 

CONVERSION   OF    MY   MOTHER. 

The  conversion  of  my  brother  and  his  union  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  filled  the  other  members  of 
the  family  with  wonder  and  amazement.  It  also  awaken- 
ed in  the  breast  of  my  mother  feelings  of  sincere  regret, 
and  brought  upon  my  brother  a  scene  of  the  sorest  perse- 
cution. Yet  he  was  "steadfast  and  immovable,  always 
abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord."  Immediately  after 
his  return  from  the  camp-ground  on  Sabbath  evening,  and 
as  soon  as  mother  had  learned  the  true  state  of  the  case 
from  my  father,  she  wept  most  bitterly,  and  reproachfully 
told  John  that  it  would  have  given  her  infinitely  less  re- 
gret to  have  laid  him  in  his  grave  than  to  be  assured  that 
he  was  a  Methodist.  She  looked  upon  his  late  conduct 
as  a  lasting  disgrace  to  the  family — a  great  stigma  upon 
the  character  and  religion  of  her  forefathers.  She  spent 
the  forepart  of  this  evening  in  abusing  the  Methodists, 
and  ridiculing  the  camp  meeting  exercises,  and  making 
sport  of  what  they  termed  "conversion,"  or  a  "change  of 
heart."     During  all  this  time  ny  brother  never  attempted 

5 


50  FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AX    ITINERANT 

a  vindication  of  the  Church  and  its  peculiar  usages  or 
doctrines,  but,  whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself, 
simply  referred  to  the  fact  that  God  had  awakened  and 
converted  his  soul,  and  adopted  him  into  his  family.  Early 
on  Monday  morning  mother  called  him  into  her  chamber, 
and  informed  him  that  she  felt  compelled  from  a  sense  of 
duty  to  forbid  his  ever  going  again  to  any  of  the  meetings 
held  by  the  Methodists.  She  also  prohibited  him  from 
holding  any  social  intercourse  with  the  young  people  in 
the  neighborhood  who  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church;  and  then  reiterated  her  former  rash  declara- 
tion, that  she  would  rather  follow  him  to  his  grave  than 
to  see  him  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  This 
was  a  period  of  painful  solicitude  with  my  brother.  He 
feared  to  incur  the  displeasure  of  his  affectionate  mother. 
And  yet  he  dreaded  the  idea  of  losing  the  favor  of  God 
more  than  even  to  forfeit  her  smiles  and  approval.  This 
led  him  to  pray  in  secret  at  every  opportunity,  and  caused 
him  to  reflect  with  great  deliberation  upon  the  course  he 
should  take.  He  went  to  the  throne  of  grace  especially 
to  claim  this  promise  :  "If  any  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask 
of  God,  who  giveth  to  all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth 
not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him."  He  sought  "light"  as 
well  as  spiritual  comfort.  Every  day  he  waxed  stronger 
in  the  faith  of  the  Gospel.  He  bore  with  meekness  and 
forbearance  the  storm  of  persecution  that  seemed  to 
gather  fresh  strength  every  day,  from  the  simple  consid- 
eration that  the  object  of  it  was  calm  and  undismayed. 

Things  continued  in  this  state,  with  but  little  variation, 
for  about  two  weeks.  But  the  time  of  deliverance  was 
near  at  hand.  God  unexpectedly  wrought  out  for  his 
servant  a  glorious  victory.  A  Methodist  prayer  meeting 
was  appointed  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Maffitt,  who  resided 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  my  father's  residence.  As 
soon  as   my  brother  heard  of  it,  he  manifested  a  great 


CONVERSION    OF    MY    MOTHER.  51 

desire  to  attend.  He  made  known  his  wishes  first  to  my 
father,  who  tried  in  vain  to  persuade  him  not  to  attend. 
Finding  all  his  arguments  of  no  avail,  he  at  last  consent- 
ed, provided  it  met  the  approbation  of  my  mother.  But 
when  the  subject  was  mentioned  to  her,  she  became  much 
displeased,  and  told  him  plainly  she  never  would  consent 
to  his  going  among  the  Methodists  again.  He  pleaded 
with  her  to  change  her  purpose,  but  it  was  all  in  vain. 
She  at  last  told  him  if  he  did  go  to  that  prayer  meeting 
contrary  to  her  wishes,  she  would  immediately  follow  him 
and  bring  him  home.  She  also  said  that  she  felt  it  to  be 
her  duty,  as  a  parent,  if  possible,  to  restrain  him  from 
bringing  any  additional  obloquy  upon  the  family- — she 
would  compel  him  to  obey  her  commands  at  all  hazards. 
The  crisis  had  now  arrived,  and  the  "  enemy  came  in  like 
a  flood/'  The  faith  of  my  brother  seemed  to  falter,  but 
he  retired  for  prayer,  and  soon  the  Spirit  came  to  his  aid 
and  stilled  the  voice  of  the  u  accuser/'  Satan,  earth,  and 
hell  were  all  doomed  to  a  speedy  discomfiture.  As  the 
shades  of  evening  drew  nigh,  my  brother  remembered  the 
words  of  St.  Paul,  "In  every  thing  by  prayer  and  suppli- 
cation let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto  God/'  He 
retired  to  the  barn  for  secret  prayer,  confidently  believing 
that  God  would  make  the  path  of  duty  plain.  He  "  con- 
tinued in  prayer,"  knowing  that  "vain  is  the  help  of 
man."  As  the  shades  of  night  gathered  around,  he  was 
still  alone  upon  his  knees,  "wrestling  with  the  angel  of 
the  covenant,"  resolved  not  to  give  over  the  struggle  till 
he  should  "prevail  with  God  and  man."  After  mother 
had  arranged  her  domestic  affairs  for  the  evening,  she 
looked  around  for  my  brother,  but  could  not  find  him 
about  the  house.  She  at  once  concluded  that  he  had 
gone  to  the  prayer  meeting,  notwithstanding  she  had 
forbidden  him  in  the  most  positive  manner.  She  in- 
stantly resolved  to  follow  him  and  oblige  him  to  return. 


52  TOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

She  hastily  put  on  her  sun-bonnet  and  left  the  house  in  a 
great  rage,  breathing  out  terrible  threatenings  against 
the  Methodists  and  all  who  attended  their  meetings.  But 
here  let  us  notice  the  remarkable  interposition  of  divine 
Providence.  God  had  no  doubt  been  guiding  and  over- 
ruling this  whole  affair.  The  path  leading  to  Mr. 
Maffitt's  passed  near  the  barn;  and  as  mother  ap- 
proached it,  she  heard  the  earnest  but  plaintive  voice  of 
some  one  at  prayer.  She  paused  and  listened  for  a  while, 
and  finally  concluded  to  leave  the  path  and  go  around  to 
the  rear  of  the  building,  where  she  could  listen  unob- 
served to  the  prayer  of  the  unknown  suppliant.  But 
imagine  her  astonishment!  When  she  had  reached  the 
most  favorable  position  for  the  accomplishment  of  her 
wishes,  she  recognized  the  voice  of  her  own  son!  At 
that  moment  he  was  pleading  in  strong  faith  with  God  to 
open  the  "eyes  of  the  understanding"  of  his  mother; 
that  being  enlightened  she  might  "know  what  is  the 
hope  of  his  calling,  and  what  the  riches  of  the  glory  of  his 
inheritance  in  the  saints."  The  cries  and  words  which 
he  uttered  were  sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword.  She 
was  powerfully  convicted  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  in- 
stantly convinced  of  the  depravity  of  her  heart  and  the 
wickedness  of  her  conduct  toward  her  dear  child  who 
was  so  faithfully  trying  to  save  his  own  soul.  She  was 
seized  with  trembling;  her  whole  frame  shook,  and  her 
strength  left  her  in  a  moment.  She  had  to  take  hold  of 
the  logs  of  the  old  barn  to  keep  from  falling  to  the  earth. 
She  concluded  that  she  occupied  "  enchanted  ground," 
and  that  her  only  safety  was  in  flight.  She  determined 
to  make  a  precipitate  retreat  from  the  scene  of  conflict. 
But  her  strength  was  inadequate  to  the  undertaking. 
It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  she  kept  from  falling  at 
every  step.  She  felt  afraid  the  earth  would  open  and 
swallow  her   up  before  she   could  reach  her  home.     On 


CONVERSION    OF    MY    MOTHER.  53 

arriviDg  at  the  house  her  strength  was  almost  entirely 
exhausted.  She  soon  rallied,  and  engaged  in  arranging 
her  domestic  affairs  for  the  night;  but  when  she  reflected 
on  her  conduct  during  the  day,  her  soul  was  overwhelmed 
with  a  sense  of  guilt  and  shame.  "What  have  I  been 
doing  ?  Persecuting  my  innocent  child !  0,  will  God 
pardon?  Will  he  ever  forgive  me?  I  am  worse  than 
Saul  of  Tarsus.  He  acted  <  ignorantly/  when  engaged 
in  persecuting  the  people  of  God,  but  I  am  without  ex- 
cuse. I  knew  I  was  doing  wrong.  But  family  pride 
urged  me  forward.  'I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in  dust 
and  ashes.'  "  My  brother  returned  to  the  house  not  long 
afterward,  and  soon  retired  to  bed,  entirely  ignorant  of 
what  had  transpired.  He  felt,  however,  that  his  prayers 
were  heard,  and  that  he  had  better  not  go  to  the  prayer 
meeting  on  that  evening.  God  also  assured  his  heart, 
"that  enlargement  and  deliverance °  would  come  from 
another  place.  He  felt  that  he  had  done  his  duty,  and 
all  that  now  remained  was  to  continue  to  wait  on  the 
Lord,  or  stand  still  and  see  his  salvation.  After  commit- 
ting himself  to  the  care  of  a  covenant-keeping  God,  he 
was  soon  locked  in  the  embrace  of  sleep.  But  in  another 
part  of  that  same  dwelling  there  was  one  heart  not  at 
rest,  one  from  whose  eyelids  sleep  had  departed.  Father 
was  asleep,  but  mother  could  find  no  rest  for  her  wounded 
soul.  The  arrows  of  "the  Almighty  were  drinking  up 
her  spirits/'  She  was  now  subdued  into  penitence  at 
the  feet  of  her  offended  Lord  and  Master.  The  pride  of 
her  heart  was  brought  down,  and  humbled  under  the 
mighty  hand  of  God.  It  might  now  be  said  of  her  as 
of  one  of  old,  "Behold  she  prayeth!"  and  the  burden  of 
that  cry  was,  "Lord,  save  me  or  I  perish."  "God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner." 

"  "lis  right  the  sentence  should  take  place, 
But  0  thy  Son  has  died." 


54  FOOT- PR  I  NTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

My  father  had  fallen  into  a  profound  sleep,  and  all  was 
quiet  and  silent  as  the  grave.  However,  the  agony  of 
my  mother  soon  became  so  great  that  she  "cried  out  in 
the  night  watches  upon  her  bed."  This  aroused  my 
father,  and  spread  alarm  through  all  that  part  of  the 
house.  Father  sprang  out  on  the  floor,  lighted  a  candle, 
and  went  to  the  bed  and  cried  out,  "  Mary  !  Mary  !  Mary  ( 
do  tell  me  what  is  the  matter  with  you  V'  My  mother 
made  him  no  reply,  but  with  her  hands  clasped  upon  her 
breast,  with  streaming  eyes,  continued,  in  the  most 
plaintive  manner,  to  plead  with  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  to 
have  mercy  upon  her  soul.     Her  constant  cry  was: 

"Merciful  God,  thyself  proclaim, 
In  this  polluted  breast ; 
Mercy  is  thy  distinguished  name, 
And  suits  the  sinner  best." 

My  father  was  alarmed  and  bewildered.  He  ran  into  the 
other  part  of  the  dwelling  and  awoke  my  brother  John, 
and  said,  "  Come !  0  come  quickly  into  my  room;  your 
mother  has  an  attack  of  the  '  hysterics.'  Come,  get  up; 
and  go  for  the  doctor.  I  fear  she  will  die  soon  unless 
she  gets  relief."  John  arose  and  concluded  to  go  and 
see  his  mother  before  he  started  for  the  physician.  On 
entering  her  bedroom,  he  soon  discovered  that  she  had 
no  need  of  medical  assistance.  He  knew  that  she  had 
been  wounded  by  the  "Spirit's  sword,"  and  could  only 
be  healed  by  an  application  of  "Gilead's  balm."  Christ, 
the  physician  of  the  sin-sick  soul,  was  all  she  wanted 
now.  As  soon  as  mother  discovered  my  brother  at  her 
bedside,  she  entreated  his  forgiveness,  and  asked  him  to 
get  down  and  pray  to  God  to  forgive  her  also,  and  change 
her  nature,  too.  My  brother  instantly  fell  upon  his 
knees,  and  cried  to  God  to  set  her  soul  at  liberty,  and 
to  make  her  also  a  "partaker  of  like  precious  faith  with 
himself."     0,  it  was  a  time  of  deep  anguish  !     The  con- 


SHOUTING    IN     CHURCH.  55 

flict  lasted  for  several  hours.  But,  like  the  Syrophenician 
woman,  she  continued  to  cry,  "Lord,  help  me."  At 
last  the  Comforter  came,  and  said  to  the  "  weeping 
Mary,"  "Daughter,  be  of  good  cheer;  thy  sins,  which 
were  many,  are  all  forgiven  thee  :  go  in  peace  and  sin  no 
more."     It  was  in  that  hour 

"Her  tongue  broke  forth  in  unknown  strains, 
And  sang  redeeming  love." 

My  mother  shouted  aloud  for  joy,  and  my  brother  rejoiced 
with  her.  The  balance  of  the  night  was  nearly  all  spent 
in  prayer  and  praise.  My  father,  who  had  been  an  eye- 
witness of  all  that  passed,  said  the  only  thing  that  com- 
forted him  at  the  time  was  the  reflection  that  it  had  all 
occurred  in  the  night — the  neighbors  would  not  know 
it,  and  the  family  would  be  saved  from  disgrace.  I  have 
often  heard  him  state  he  thought  they  were  both  partially 
deranged,  and  would  be  restored  to  their  senses  by  the 
light  of  the  morning.  This,  however,  was  a  delusive 
hope,  as  you  will  learn  from  the  sequel. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

SHOUTING    IN    CHURCH. 

After  the  conversion  of  my  mother,  she  ceased  to  op- 
pose my  brother  in  trying  to  secure  a  "crown  of  life."  In 
regard  to  their  religious  experience,  they  now  saw  "  eye 
to  eye,"  and  walked  together  from  day  to  day  in  the  com- 
forts of  the  Holy  Ghost,  realizing  that 

"  The  fellowship  of  kindred  minds 
Is  like  to  that  above." 

It  was  not  long  till  my  father  was  better  reconciled  to 
the  unexpected  change  in  my  mother's  experience;  but 


56  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  time  was  drawing  near  when  he  was  to  be  subjected 
to  a  more  severe  trial  than  any  thing  that  had  yet  trans 
pired. 

The  following  morning  father  assembled  the  family,  aa 
usual,  for  worship.  He  read  a  Psalm,  and  then  sung  it, 
and  kneeled  down  to  pray;  but  soon  after  he  com- 
menced mother  began  to  praise  God,  in  an  audible  voice. 
This  was  a  breach  of  decorum  that  my  father  could  not 
endure.  He  ceased  praying  at  once,  rose  up  from  his 
knees,  and  left  the  house.  He  did  not  return  again  till 
called  in  to  breakfast.  This  was  of  frequent  occurrence 
during  the  week.  On  the  following  Sabbath  the  family, 
as  usual,  went  to  their  own  church.  Mother,  as  yet,  had 
never  thought  of  going  to  the  Methodist  meetings,  al 
though  she  had  resolved  to  cease  persecuting  her  son, 
or  any  that  wished  to  join  them,  in  future.  The  services 
were  unusually  solemn,  on  that  day.  The  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  supper  was  administered.  The  "preparation 
sermon"  was  on  the  sufferings  of  Christ.  Mother,  al- 
though a  member  of  the  Seceder  Church  from  a  child, 
had  never  experienced  a  change  of  heart  till  a  few  days 
previous.  Now  every  thing  was  changed,  because  she 
had  a  "new  heart  and  a  right  spirit."  The  Bible  was  a 
new  book;  its  promises  were  precious;  and  the  preaching 
of  the  Gospel  was  "like  honey  from  the  comb"  to  her 
spiritual  appetite.  She  was  no  longer  an  "outer-court" 
worshiper,  serving  God  in  the  "letter." 

The  sermon  was  well  adapted  to  the  occasion,  and  long 
before  its  close  my  mother  was  very  happy.  The  Lord 
poured  into  her  soul  the  fullness  of  the  riches  of  his 
grace — "good  measure,  pressed  down,  shaken  together, 
and  running  over."  She  shouted  aloud  for  joy.  The 
consternation  of  both  minister  and  people  was  very  great, 
as  mother  continued  to  "  bless  God  in  his  sanctuary."  At 
length,   the  minister  was   overwhelmed  with   confusion, 


SHOUTING    IN    CHURCH.  57 

and  took  his  seat  in  the  pulpit ;  a  part  of  the  congrega- 
tion fled  from  their  seats  toward  the  door,  with  great  fear 
and  trembling;  the  services  were  speedily  brought  to  a 
close,  ana  as  the  congregation  returned  home,  they  said, 
one  to  another,  "We  have  seen  strange  things  to-day. " 
Among  all  of  them  that  retired  from  the  house  that  day, 
none  were  so  deeply  chagrined  as  my  father.  His  deep 
sense  of  mortification  could  only  be  exceeded  by  the  joy 
and  happiness  of  my  mother  and  brother  John.  Such 
an  occurrence  had  never  been  witnessed  in  that  church 
before,  and  of  course  the  members,  as  well  as  the  preacher, 
were  loud  in  their  expressions  of  condemnation.  Mother 
was  now  considered,  by  all  of  them,  partially  deranged, 
and,  if  not  restored,  would  soon  be  a  fit  subject  for  the 
insane  asylum. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  news  had  spread  throughout  the 
neighborhood — like  fire  in  dry  stubble — that  the  good  old- 
fashioned,  psalm-singing  Seceders  had  caught  the  "Meth- 
odist Jire,"  and  were  actually  engaged  in  shouting  in  the 
public  congregation.  This  strange  news  brought  together 
a  large  congregation,  the  next  Sabbath,  to  see  and  hear 
for  themselves.  During  the  week,  mother  continued  very 
happy,  praying  and  praising  God  during  the  greater  part 
of  her  leisure  hours.  She  often  interrupted  the  quiet 
and  order  of  the  family  devotions,  by  shouting  and  prais- 
ing God,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  my  father.  She 
would  retire  for  secret  prayer,  and  shout  in  her  closet, 
and  often  in  the  night  watches  she  would  praise  God 
aloud  upon  her  bed. 

At  length,  the  second  Sabbath  arrived,  and  our  family 
repaired  to  their  own  place  of  worship,  as  usual.  Many 
strange  faces  thronged  the  sanctuary,  on  that  occasion, 
all  anxious  to  learn,  from  personal  observation,  the  truth 
of  the  strange  reports  so  recently  circulated  in  the  neigh- 
borhood.    The  services  were  commenced,  and  conducted 


58  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

in  the  usual  manner  about  half-way  through,  when,  on  a 
sudden,  the  Spirit  of  God  filled  the  heart  of  my  mother 
and  she  broke  out  in  joyful  strains  of  "  halleluiah  to 
God/'  for  what  he  had  done  for  her  soul.  The  congrega- 
tion was  thrown  into  great  confusion,  and  the  minister 
remarked  that  he  would  sit  down  for  a  while,  and,  as 
soon  as  quiet  was  restored,  he  would  try  to  proceed  with 
his  discourse.  The  ecstasy  of  my  mother  was  very  great 
and  it  was  some  time  before  she  ceased  to  praise  the  God 
of  her  salvation.  The  excitement  in  the  audience  was 
indescribable ;  all  present  seemed  to  be  overwhelmed 
with  a  sense  of  the  majesty  and  power  of  God.  I  have 
often  heard  my  father  remark  that,  at  that  time,  he  would 
cheerfully  have  given  all  he  possessed  to  be  free  from  the 
odium  thus  brought  upon  the  family  and  his  own  Church 
by  these  strange  religious  exercises  of  my  mother.  This 
sense  of  shame  was  daily  increased,  from  the  fact  that  he 
was  now  well  persuaded  that,  whenever  the  Spirit  filled 
her  heart,  whether  at  home  or  abroad,  she  would  "  do 
as  the  occasion  served. "  This  soon  became  generally 
known  among  the  Methodists  living  in  the  vicinity  of  my 
father's,  and  in  all  that  "  region  round  about." 

But  things  were  not  to  continue  in  this  state  long. 
The  third  Sabbath  arrived,  and  a  greater  crowd  assembled 
at  the  church,  to  see  for  themselves.  The  minister  had 
not  preached  long  before  mother  commenced  praising 
God,  in  an  audible  manner.  The  minister  was  sorely  dis- 
pleased, and  cried  out,  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Order  ! 
order!  order!"  But  mother  heeded  not  the  words, 
nor  understood  the  nature  of  the  command;  but  being 
"girded  with  gladness,"  like  the  saints  of  old  in  the  tem- 
ple, continued  to  praise  the  Lord  with  a  loud  and  clear 
voice.  Her  pastor,  at  length,  finding  that  she  disregarded 
his  commands,  called  upon  the  elders  of  the  Church,  in 
the  most  imperative  manner,  to  go  and  remove  her  from 


SHOUTING    IN    CHURCH.  59 

the  pew.  But,  alas  for  the  poor  elders !  although  they 
loved  their  minister,  not  one  of  them  even  arose  from 
their  places,  to  attempt  to  execute  his  orders.  Their 
courage  was  not  equal  to  the  task ;  they  seemed  to  act  as 
though  they  were  much  more  safe  to  keep  at  a  respectful 
distance.  Mother  continued  to  shout  till  the  whole 
congregation  was  melted  to  tears.  After  she  had  de- 
sisted, the  minister  arose  and  dismissed  the  congregation, 
which  retired  hastily,  in  the  greatest  possible  confusion  ; 
some  crying,  others  scoffing,  etc. 

Things  had  now  come  to  a  crisis.  The  minister  was 
very  angry.  The  Methodists  in  the  neighborhood,  of 
course,  were  highly  delighted ;  and  none  of  them,  I  have 
been  informed,  rejoiced  as  did  my  brother  John.  Father 
went  home  deeply  mortified,  saying  in  his  heart,  "Ver- 
ily, the  end  is  not  yet." 

In  the  early  part  of  that  week,  mother  received  a  writ- 
ten notification  to  " attend  trial"  before  the  " session," 
to  answer  to  the  charge  of  "  disorderly  conduct  in  the 
house  of  God;"  specification,  for  shouting  three  successive 
Sabbaths.  On  the  reception  of  this  notice,  my  mother 
was  thrown  into  a  state  of  great  mental  agitation.  She 
could  not  endure  the  idea  of  being  expelled  from  the 
Church  of  her  early  choice;  her  feelings,  for  a  short 
time,  were  insupportable,  and  she  wept  much.  However, 
she  soon  found  relief  at  the  throne  of  grace.  From  that 
hour,  till  the  period  set  for  the  trial,  she  ceased  not  to 
pray  to  God  to  undertake  her  cause  in  "  time  of  need." 
She  did  not  pray  in  vain.  "  To  the  righteous  there  aris- 
eth  light  in  darkness."  When  the  period  arrived,  father 
and  mother  repaired  to  the  church,  with  sad  hearts  and 
tearful  eyes.  The  minister  and  the  members  of  the  ses- 
sion were  all  present,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  accused 
party.  The  minister  came  out,  and  first  invited  my  father 
into  the  place  where  the  elders  had  convened.     He  then 


60  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

requested  him  to  give  them  a  history  of  this  strange  af- 
fair. My  father  politely  complied  with  his  request,  and 
told  them  all  how  it  came  to  pass,  in  as  few  words  as 
possible ;  and  then  closed  by  saying :  "  You  all  know  I 
do  not  believe  in  shouting,  but  I  am  compelled  to  state 
that  my  wife  is  a  changed  woman.  She  is  not  like  the 
same  person,  now,  that  she  once  was.  She  is  kind, 
patient,  and  forbearing,  and  seems  to  be  happy  all  the 
time,  at  home  and  abroad ;  and  takes  a  much  deeper  in- 
terest in  the  spiritual  happiness  of  her  family.  Some- 
times she  goes  to  secret  prayer,  and  comes  out  of  her 
closet  bathed  in  tears.  I  know  she  is  a  much  better 
woman  than  before.  She  says  that  she  does  not  want  to 
shout,  but,  when  '  filled  with  the  Spirit/  she  can  not  and 
does  not  wish  to  refrain  from  so  doing.  I  want  you  to 
call  her  in  and  let  her  answer  for  herself.  She  will  tell 
you  all  about  how  the  Lord  has  been  dealing  with  her, 
for  the  last  few  months/' 

The  minister  then  asked  my  father  if  he  had  ever  tried 
to  make  her  promise  to  quit.  He  answered  yes,  often  j 
but  she  was  never  willing  to  make  any  such  rash  promises. 
Here  the  conference  ended  with  my  father,  and  he  retired 
from  the  house,  leaving  the  minister  and  elders  to  their 
own  deliberations. 

They  continued  to  consult  together  for  a  long  time. 
At  length,  my  father  was  invited  to  return  to  the  session- 
room,  when  the  minister  remarked :  "  Mr.  G-.,  on  more 
mature  deliberation  we  have  concluded  not  to  examine 
Mrs.  Gr.  upon  the  charge  preferred  against  her,  or  to  in- 
quire any  further,  at  present,  into  the  peculiar  nature  of 
her  religious  exercises.  We  also  have  unshaken  confi- 
dence in  her  piety  and  integrity,  and  do  not  wish  to 
throw  any  obstacles  in  her  way.  We  will  not  even  pass 
an  official  censure  upon  her  late  conduct  at  church. 
We  will  dismiss  the  case,  with  the  request  that  you  will 


SHOUTING    IN    CHURCH.  61 

use  all  your  influence  to  get  her  to  quit  shouting  in 
church."  My  father  replied,  "I  will  try  to  do  so,  but  I 
have  no  hope  of  success." 

When  mother  heard  the  decision,  she  could  scarce  re- 
frain from  praising  God  on  the  highway,  as  she  returned 
to  her  home.  With  the  Psalmist  she  exclaimed:  "0 
how  great  is  thy  goodness  which  thou  hast  laid  up  for 
them  that  fear  thee,  and  wrought  out  for  them  that  fear 
thee  before  the  sons  of  men  ["  "The  Lord  is  my  shield  ; 
I  trusted  in  him  and  I  am  helped ;  therefore,  my  heart 
greatly  rejoiceth."  She  was  now  very  happy,  all  the 
time : 

"  With  her,  no  melancholy  void, 
No  moment  lingered  unemployed 
Or  unimproved,  below." 

I  have  often  heard  her  say  this  was  one  of  the  happiest 
weeks  of  her  life.  John  and  she  "talked  often  by  the 
way,"  and  rejoiced  together  as  heirs  of  the  same  glorious 
inheritance. 

Up  to  this  time  my  brother  had  wisely  said  noth- 
ing about  going  again  to  the  Methodist  meetings;  but 
now  "  the  set  time  had  fully  come " — the  way  was 
made  plain  before  him — and  on  one  Sabbath  morning  he 
asked  my  mother  to  accompany  him  to  class  meeting,  at 
brother  Maffitt's.  These  meetings  were  held  at  the  same 
house  where,  but  a  few  weeks  before,  she  had  so  peremp- 
torily forbidden  my  brother  to  go.  However,  she  con- 
cluded to  go  and  see  for  herself  how  these  meetings  were 
carried  on. 

The  exercises  of  the  class  were  conducted  in  the  usua* 
way.  The  young  and  old  arose,  as  their  names  were 
called,  and  spoke  of  the  love  of  Grod  in  a  most  touching 
manner.  Mother  was  surprised  to  hear  so  many  speak, 
in  part,  the  exercises  of  her  own  mind.  Before  it  came 
her  turn  to  speak,  the  cup  of  her  rejoicing  was  full,  and 


62  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

she  began  to  shout  and  praise  God.  Others  joined  in 
with  her,  and  they  u  exalted  the  name  of  the  Lord  to- 
gether." Here,  among  a  people  she  had  so  long  despised, 
she  met  for  the  first  time  with  kindred  spirits ;  here,  for 
the  first  time,  she  realized  "  where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
is,  there  is  liberty." 

0  what  a  change  the  Lord  wrought  out  in  so  short  a 
time  !  She  went  again  and  again  to  these  "  feasts  of 
love,"  with  my  brother,  and  liked  all  of  their  exercises 
better,  at  each  succeeding  meeting;  and  to  the  surprise 
of  my  brother,  and  the  mortification  of  her  old  friends, 
she  soon  made  up  her  mind  to  join  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  This  step  was  bitterly  opposed  by  my 
father.  He  tried  to  persuade  her  not  to  leave  the  Church 
in  which  she  was  born;  but  all  his  efforts  were  unavail- 
ing. The  providence  of  God  clearly  indicated  to  her 
that  she  ought  to  do  it,  without  delay.  She  now  rejoiced 
that  my  brother  had  united  with  the  Methodists,  and 
could  say  to  him  with  a  sincere  heart,  like  Ruth  to 
Naomi:  " Entreat  me  not  to  leave  thee,  or  to  return  from 
following  after  thee ;  thy  people  shall  be  my  people,  and 
thy  God  my  God." 

Accordingly  she  applied  for  a  letter  of  dismissal  from 
the  Seceder  Church,  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  the  year  1816.  I  have  often  heard  my  father 
say,  "  0  if  I  had  known  in  the  beginning  that  it  would 
have  ended  as  it  did,  I  would  not  have  remained  passive, 
and  comparatively  neutral.  I  thought  it  would  soon  all 
pass  away,  and  be  forgotten ;  but  in  this  hope  I  was  sadly 
disappointed."     But  "  He  doeth  all  things  well." 


ORIGIN    OF    METHODISM    IN    RIPLEY.  63 


CHAPTER    VII. 

ORIGIN    AND    PROGRESS    OF    METHODISM 
IN    RIPLEY. 

After  mother  united  "with,  the  Methodists,  the  heart 
and  hands  of  iny  brother  John  no  longer  drooped.  He 
waxed  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  contended  earnestly 
against  my  father  for  the  "faith  once  delivered  to  the 
saints."  Father  was  very  fond  of  controversy,  and  a 
firm  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  John  Calvin.  These 
discussions  between  my  father  and  brother  were  kept 
up  for  many  months,  day  and  night.  Mother  would 
always  render  my  brother  all  the  assistance  that  she 
could;  but  was,  for  the  most  part,  a  silent  but  prayerful 
listener.  Father  was  often  more  than  a  match  for  my 
brother;  yet  when  fairly  beaten  by  John  in  debate,  he 
would  not  yield,  but  resume  the  subject  and  fight  it  over 
again,  without  ever  growing  weary.  These  discussions 
were  often  continued  late  at  night,  especially  when  the 
topic  of  personal  experience  was  brought  up,  or  the  pos- 
sibility of  a  sinner  knowing  that  he  is  born  of  God 
before  the  hour  of  death.  Mother  would  often  retire 
to  bed  at  such  a  time,  and  pray  that  God  would  make 
my  brother  the  instrument  of  teaching  my  father  "the 
way  of  the  Lord  more  perfectly."  Father  would  never  say 
"it  is  growing  late,"  or  "I  am  weary,"  as  long  as  my 
brother  would  continue  to  controvert  with  him  on  doc- 
trinal subjects.  But  whenever  John  would  remark  in  sub- 
stance as  follows:  "Well,  father,  you  may  argue  and  talk 
as  you  please  against  the  direct  witness  of  the  Spirit,  or 
the  impossibility  of  our  knowing  in  this  life  that  we  are 
the  children  of  God,  but  let  me  tell  you,  I  know  that  God, 
for  Christ's  sake,  pardoned  my  sins  at  the  camp  meeting, 


64  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

and  gave  me  the  witness  in  my  soul;  I  feel  it  at  this 
very  moment.  Like  the  blind  man,  I  can  say  of  a  truth, 
'  this  one  thing  I  know,  that  whereas  I  was  once  blind,  I 
now  see'  M — as  soon  as  my  brother  would  state  that  he 
had  the  "  witness  in  himself,"  my  father  would  rise  up  to 
retire  and  say,  "  John,  it  is  growing  late,  you  had  better 
go  to  your  bed."  Header,  what  an  important  lesson  you 
and  1  are  here  taught ! 

The  next  year  my  parents  moved  to  Ohio,  and  settled 
on  the  waters  of  Eagle  creek,  about  six  miles  from  the 
city  of  Maysville,  in  Kentucky.  There  was  circuit 
preaching  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Fitch,  about  one 
mile  below  their  new  location.  They  found  no  Seceders 
living  in  that  region  of  country,  and  the  nearest  Presby- 
terian meeting-house  was  about  four  miles  distant,  on  the 
waters  of  Red  Oak.  As  my  father  had  now  no  place  of 
worship,  he  concluded  to  attend  some  of  the  Methodist 
meetings  in  that  neighborhood.  The  first  sermon  that 
he  heard  was  from  Eev.  J.  Havens,  from  these  words : 
"For  now  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons, 
but  in  every  nation  he  that  feareth  him  and  worketh 
righteousness,  is  accepted  of  him."  Under  this  dis- 
course my  father,  like  Peter,  had  his  eyes  opened  to  see 
that  "what  God  had  cleansed,  he  ought  not  to  call  com- 
mon." He  espoused  the  doctrines  of  John  TTesley  and 
Fletcher  with  all  his  heart,  and  became  a  zealous  advo- 
cate of  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  a  "free  and  full  salva- 
tion from  all  sm  in  this  life,"  and  the  direct  witness  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Fitch,  on  Eagle  creek. 
Mr.  Fitch  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  first  settled  at 
what  was  called  "Logan's  Gap,"  on  the  Ohio  river.  For 
a  long  time,  a  good  old  sister  of  the  name  of  Anna  , 
Mountain,  had  been  praying  day  and  night  for  God  to 
send  some  one  into  that  part  of  the  state  that  would  be 


ORIGIN    OF    METHODISM    IN    RIPLEY.  65 

willing  to  open  their  house  for  Methodist  preaching.  I 
have  often  heard  brother  Fitch  remark,  that  he  believed 
that  he  was  directed  to  Eagle  creek  by  a  special  provi- 
dence in  answer  to  the  prayers  of  this  devoted  saint. 

Methodism  was  then  in  its  infancy.  The  first  society 
of  Methodists  in  southern  Ohio,  was  organized  in  the 
spring  of  1812,  at  the  house  of  brother  Samuel  Fitch,  on 
Eagle  creek,  four  miles  from  Ripley,  on  the  hill-road  to 
Maysville.  Some  noble-hearted  Christians  had  settled 
near  him.  The  scattered  sheep  were  soon  called  to- 
gether at  his  house  to  worship  the  God  of  their  fathers. 
Rev.  Isaac  Pavey  formed  them  into  a  class.  The  Bas- 
com  family  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood,  one  mile 
east  of  Eagle  creek,  on  the  road  leading  to  Maysville, 
in  Kentucky,  in  this  same  year.  The  late  Bishop  Bas- 
com,  who  was  then  in  his  sixteenth  year,  was  ap- 
pointed class-leader,  and  continued  to  lead  this  class  till 
some  time  in  February,  1813,  when  he  was  regularly 
licensed  to  preach  as  a  local  preacher,  by  Rev.  James 
Quinn,  of  precious  memory.  During  the  year  1813 
brother  Bascom  traveled  Brush  Creek  circuit,  by  the 
appointment  of  the  presiding  elder.  I  have  often  heard 
brother  Fitch  remark,  that  the  late  Bishop  Bascom 
was  the  most  faithful  and  devoted  class-leader  that 
he  had  ever  known.  Often  when  Eagle  creek  was  run- 
ning full  of  water  during  the  winter  season,  this  young 
exhorter,  Henry  B.  Bascom,  would  strip  off  a  part  of  his 
clothes  and  wade  the  swollen  stream,  holding  them  above 
his  head,  rather  than  disappoint  those  who  were  anxiously 
awaiting  his  arrival.  The  class  prospered  wonderfully. 
Souls  were  awakened  and  converted  at  every  meeting. 
He  reported  an  increase  of  sixty  at  the  close  of  the  year, 
which  made  the  total  number  seventy-five. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  those  who  were  first 
called  Methodists  on  the  waters  of  Eagle  creek :  H.  B. 


66  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

Bascom,  leader;  Alpheus  Basconi,  Hiram  Parent,  Mrs. 
Parent,  Mrs.  Hannah  Houk  Bascom,  Hugh  Allen,  Mrs. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Staten,  Henry  Hardesty,  Anna  Mountain. 
Henry  Morris,  Mrs.  Morris,  George  Coates,  Mrs.  Coates. 
Miss  Coates — 15. 

In  the'  spring  of  1817  my  parents  settled  within  about 
one  and  a  half  miles  from  "Glen  Cottage/'  the  residence 
of  the  Bascom  family.  They  attached  themselves  to  the 
same  class  of  which  Bishop  Bascom  was  leader  till  the 
time  that  he  entered  the  ministry.  Rev.  John  Meek  was 
the  first  Methodist  preacher  that  I  ever  heard  preach. 
He  was  then  comparatively  a  young  man,  and  had  a  rich, 
melodious  voice,  and  preached  with  great  eloquence  and 
power  at  popular  meetings.  His  preaching  made  a  deep 
impression  on  my  youthful  mind.  I  was  intimately 
acquainted  with  Rev.  Henry  B.  Bascom  from  the  days 
of  my  boyhood.  The  most  eloquent  and  effective  dis- 
courses that  I  ever  heard  him  preach,  were  on  the  waters 
of  Eagle  creek,  near  the  residence  of  his  father,  and  in 
sight  of  the  house  where  he  was  first  appointed  class- 
leader.  I  have  many  things  to  say  of  the  late  Bishop 
Bascom,  but  have  no  room  for  them  here.  He  was  the 
most  affectionate  son  that  I  ever  knew.  He  was  kind  to 
all  his  relatives.  I  corresponded  with  him  for  many 
years.  The  last  letter  that  I  received  from  him  was 
while  he  was  residing  at  Augusta  College,  in  Kentucky 
It  was  not  long  after  the  death  of  his  step-mother,  whon> 
he  loved  most  fondly.  I  will  give  the  introductory  por 
tion  of  it.     Peace  to  his  ashes ! 

"Pabke  Lodge,  Febeuaet  7,  1842 

"My  Dear  Brother  Gaddis, — I  received  your  kind 
letter  some  time  ago,  but  the  illness  and  death  of  my 
step-mother  prevented  my  attending  to  it;  and  even  now 
I  feel  very  little  like  writing,  and  when  I  attempt  it,  it  is 
with  an  unconquerable  propensity  to  be  brief,  even  with 


ORIGIN    OP    METHODISM    IN    RIPLEY.  67 

the  most  intimate  of  my  friends.  We  committed  the 
remains  of  step-mother  to  the  dust  on  the  27th  ultimo,  and 
I  need  not  say  what  has  been  the  affliction  here  for  some 
weeks  past." 

Ripley  is  pleasantly  situated  on  the  Ohio  river,  in 
Brown  county,  Ohio.  It  is  about  fifty  miles  above  Cin- 
cinnati, and  equidistant  from  Augusta  and  Maysville,  in 
Kentucky.  It  was  formerly  included  in  what  was  origin- 
ally called  the  "Virginia  Military  District/'  and  formed  a 
part  of  a  large  tract  of  land  given  by  the  Government  to 
Colonel  Pogue  as  a  reward  for  his  services.  It  was  laid 
out  by  the  proprietor,  Colonel  P.,  in  1804.  The  original 
name  of  the  village  was  Stanton;  but  at  the  request  of 
the  citizens,  consisting  of  only  four  families  in  1816,  it 
was  changed  to  Ripley,  by  a  "special  act"  of  the  Legis- 
lature. The  first  settlers  of  the  town  were  from  the 
states  of  Kentucky  and  Virginia,  a  few  of  whom  are  still 
living.  It  was  at  an  early  period  selected  as  the  seat  of 
justice  for  the  county  of  Brown;  but  the  "board  of  com- 
missioners," who  were  instructed  by  the  people  to  find 
a  more  central  location,  removed  it  to  Georgetown,  a 
thriving  village  about  ten  miles  distant,  in  a  north- 
westerly direction.  This  had  a  tendency  to  retard  the 
improvement  of  Ripley  for  a  number  of  years. 

Methodism  was  planted  here  at  an  early  period.  The 
first  Methodist  sermon  was  preached  here  by  the  ven- 
erable John  Collins,  of  precious  memory,  a  particular 
account  of  which  I  furnished  Judge  M'Lean  for  the 
biography  of  father  Collins. 

In  1818,  soon  after  my  father  settled  on  Eagle  creek,  a 
small  class  was  organized  by  Rev.  William  Dixon  in  the 
town  of  Ripley,  of  which  my  brother,  Rev.  John  Gaddis, 
was  appointed  leader.  The  names  of  the  members  were : 
John  Ashbaugh,  Sophia  Ashbaugh,   John  Walkington, 


68  FOOT-PRINTS   OF   AN   ITINERANT. 

Ann  Tuprnan,  Miss  Gooty,  Mr.  Tupnian,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
M'Daniel,  Rachel  and  Sophia  Hardin,  and  Miss  Anna 
Hardin,  and  a  few  others  whose  names  I  do  not  now 
recollect.  The  first  preaching  was  held  in  private  houses. 
It  was  next  removed  to  the  new  court-house,  and,  under 
the  labors  of  Rev.  Andrew  M'Clain,  a  number  were 
added  to  the  Church.  The  next  place  of  preaching  was 
in  an  old  frame  house,  which  had  been  previously  used  foi 
an  oil-mill.  It  was  in  this  old,  antiquated  house  that  1 
first  heard  Rev.  Russel  Bigelow  preach  a  most  powerful 
sermon.  In  1826  a  new  brick  house  was  erected  near 
the  old  frame  oil-mill,  in  which  many  souls  were  power- 
fully converted,  especially  during  the  ministrations  of 
Rev.  Frederick  Butler,  Rev.  R.  S.  Foster,  and  Rev.  John 
W.  Clarke.  A  number  of  years  since  the  "old  brick" 
was  sold,  and  a  new  and  elegant  church  erected  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street.  For  a  number  of  years  past, 
the  society  has  supported  a  stationed  minister. 

FIRST  BURIAL  AND  FIRST  SERMON  BY  A  METHOD- 
IST IN  THE  TOWN  OF  RIPLEY. 

The  first  Methodist  minister  that  visited  Ripley,  Ohio, 
was  the  late  venerable  John  Collins.  The  substance  of 
that  visit  was  furnished  by  myself  for  the  "Life  of  Rev. 
John  Collins,  by  Judge  M'Lean."  I  will  now  give  the  nar- 
rative more  in  detail.  Mr.  Collins  was  passing  from  one 
of  the  preaching-places  on  Eagle  creek  at  the  house  of 
Samuel  Fitch,  to  the  "Center,"  or  the  old  county  seat  on 
Straight  creek,  in  Brown  county,  Ohio.  On  ascending  to 
the  top  of  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  waters  of  Eagle 
and  Red  Oak  creeks,  he  discovered  a  "blazed  path"  turn- 
ing off  the  main  road  to  the  left.  He  instantly  halted 
and  inquired  of  his  guide  where  that  new  road  would 
lead  them.  He  was  informed  that  it  led  to  a  little  town 
at  the  mouth  of  Red  Oak  creek,  on  the  Ohio  river,  called 


ORIGIN    OF    METHODISM    IN    RIPLEY.  69 

" Stanton" — the  site  where  the  flourishing  town  of  Rip- 
ley is  now  situated.  He  then  inquired  if  they  could 
reach  the  point  of  destination  and  take  that  place  in 
their  route  ?  His  friend  informed  him  that  they  could 
without  difficulty.  He  then  replied,  "I  feel  impressed 
to  go  by  this  new  village. "  As  they  approached  this 
place,  they  saw  a  funeral  procession  ascending  the  hill 
into  a  dense  grove  above  the  site  where  the  first  Presby- 
terian church  now  stands.  It  was  the  first  burial  among 
the  villagers  since  their  settlement  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio.  Mr.  Collins  and  his  traveling  companion  imme- 
diately joined  in  the  solemn  procession  and  followed  on 
to  the  grave.  It  was  the  first  wife  of  Mr.  Bernard  Jack- 
son, who  for  many  years  had  been  an  avowed  infidel. 
After  the  grave  was  covered,  and  all  were  about  to  retire, 
Mr.  Collins  uncovered  his  head  and  remarked,  that  they 
had  now  performed  the  last  act  of  kindness  that  could  be 
done  for  the  dead,  but  that  he,  as  one  of  the  embassa- 
dors of  Christ,  had  a  message  for  the  living.  He  then 
politely  remarked,  that  any  who  wished  to  return  to  their 
homes,  were  at  liberty  to  do  so,  but  that  he  should  preach 
to  all  who  would  remain.  No  one  left  the  ground.  He 
read  for  his  text  a  part  of  the  twenty-fifth  verse  of  the 
eleventh  chapter  of  St.  John:  "I  am  the  resurrection 
and  the  life :  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were 
dead,  yet  shall  he  live."  He  preached  with  irresistible 
power.  The  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  and  the  circum- 
stances which  brought  him  to  the  place,  added,  no  doubt, 
to  the  seriousness  of  the  services.  No  one  could  apply 
peculiar  circumstances  more  forcibly  than  Mr.  Collins. 
There  were  many  tears  and  sobs  in  that  little  audience  at 
the  first  burial  in  Ripley.  The  infidel  husband  was 
overwhelmed,  and  renounced  his  infidelity  and  became 
an  earnest  inquirer  after  the  way  of  salvation.  In  after 
years  I  formed  his  acquaintance,  and  often  heard  him 


70  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

relate  how  lie  was  brought  out  of  darkness  into  the  light 
of  the  Gospel.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  His  remains  now  rest  at  Stone  Chapel,  in 
West  Union  circuit.  He  has  one  son  that  is  a  traveling 
preacher  in  the  state  of  Indiana. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MY     CONVERSION. 

In  the  summer  of  1824,  some  time  in  the  month  of 
August,  it  pleased  God  to  bring  me  to  a  saving  knowl- 
edge of  the  truth.  It  was  at  the  first  camp  meeting  that 
I  was  permitted  to  attend.  This  meeting  was  held  in 
the  state  of  Kentucky,  about  six  miles  from  the  city  of 
Maysville,  and  two  miles  west  of  the  town  of  Washington. 
in  Mason  county.  From  my  childhood  I  had  heard  my 
parents  talk  about  these  extraordinary  means  of  grace. 
Their  oft-repeated  descriptions  of  them  had  awakened  in 
my  youthful  mind  a  great  desire  to  go.  For  several 
months  previous  to  the  time  appointed  for  this  meeting, 
all  my  waking  thoughts  were  occupied  about  it.  At 
length  the  long-wished-for  period  arrived,  and  at  "  early 
morn,"  in  company  with  three  elder  brothers,  I  started 
over  the  Ohio  river.  At  this  time  our  residence  was  in 
the  county  of  Brown.  Our  dwelling  stood  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  a  short  distance  below  the  town  of  Ripley. 
On  the  morning  of  our  departure  for  the  encampment, 
my  dear  mother  followed  us  out  to  the  gate  and  bade  us 
adieu.  She  said  to  William  and  myself,  "Be  good 
children,  and  seek  religion  before  you  return  home/' 

At  that  time  I  was  not  thinking  much  upon  that  sub- 
ject; neither  did  I  desire  to  go  to  the  meeting  in  order 


MY    CONVERSION.  71 

to  seek  religion.  If  any  one  had  said  to  me  on  that 
morning,  I  think  you  will  get  religion  and  join  the 
Church  before  you  come  back,  I  should  have  "laughed 
them  to  scorn. "  I  was  going  out  of  mere  curiosity,  with- 
out any  definite  object  before  my  mind.  However,  soon 
after  my  arrival  on  the  ground,  I  felt  very  solemn. 
"When  we  passed  within  the  inclosure  of  the  tents,  and 
drew  near  to  the  preachers'  stand,  I  was  forcibly  remind- 
ed of  the  address  to  the  Hebrew  prophet :  "  Take  off 
thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet;  for  the  place  whereon  thou 
standest  is  holy  ground."  This  camp  meeting  was  at- 
tended by  many  of  the  most  gifted  and  eloquent  preach- 
ers of  the  Kentucky  conference.  Their  preaching  was 
attended  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  hundreds 
were  awakened  and  converted.  The  late  Johnson  Arm- 
strong, of  Maysville,  Kentucky,  had  a  very  large  tent  for 
the  accommodation  of  strangers  from  abroad.  All  of 
our  company,  which  consisted  of  seven  or  eight  young 
men  and  boys,  were  politely  invited  to  brother  Arm- 
strong's tent.  Never  shall  I  forget  the  kindness  of  that 
good  man.  Putting  his  hand  on  my  head,  he  said  to  me, 
"  My  little  lad,  you  see  I  am  now  an  old  man,  and  I  have 
a  large  company  to  entertain ;  I  can  not,  of  course,  pay 
much  attention  to  you,  but  you  are  very  welcome  to  stay 
here  during  the  meeting.  Whenever  you  see  a  vacant 
place  at  the  table,  go  and  take  your  seat  without  waiting 
for  me  to  look  after  you,  or  give  you  another  invitation." 
This  act  of  kindness  had  a  happy  influence  on  my  youth- 
ful mind.  I  soon  felt  a  home  feeling  come  over  me.  On 
Sabbath  afternoon,  at  the  close  of  a  most  deeply-affecting 
discourse,  seekers  of  religion  were  invited  to  come  for- 
ward. The  seats  were  placed  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  but 
there  was  no  altar  railing  to  guard  the  near  approach  of 
the  crowd.  As  a  substitute,  the  brethren  joined  their 
hands  together  and  formed  a  circle,  to  keep  the  congre- 


72  FOOT- PR  I  NTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

gation  from  intruding  upon  the  place  set  apart  for  the 
mourners.  Within  this  circle  of  " brotherly  love,"  all 
were  invited  who  desired  the  prayers  of  the  people  of 
God.  It  was  an  hour  of  great  religious  excitement. 
Many  were  "  crying  for  mercy/'  as  they  approached  the 
consecrated  spot.  I  had  an  irrepressible  anxiety  to  see 
all  that  was  going  forward,  and,  like  one  of  old,  I  sought 
the  highest  elevation  within  my  reach;  I  climbed  up  on  a 
high  stump,  which  stood  near  the  preachers'  stand,  where 
I  was  head  and  shoulders  above  the  entire  congregation. 
It  was  not  long,  however,  till  I  was  called  to  come 
down  and  humble  myself  before  the  Lord  at  the  mercy- 
seat.  While  watching  the  moving  scene  before  me,  to 
my  great  surprise,  I  saw  my  brother  William  press 
through  the  congregation  and  bow  as  a  penitent,  at  one 
of  the  benches  just  before  me.  At  that  time,  William 
and  myself  were  the  only  members  of  the  family  who 
were  not  within  the  pale  of  the  visible  Church.  The 
sight  of  this  deeply  affected  my  "  thoughtless  heart,"  and 
I  instantly  exclaimed,  mentally,  "0,  my  God,  will  father, 
and  mother,  and  brothers,  and  sisters,  and  all  my  rela- 
tives, '  press  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven/  and  leave  me 
in  the  broad  road  which  leadeth  to  destruction !  0,  how 
can  I  endure  the  thought  of  an  eternal  separation  \n  I 
then  said,  "0,  if  all  of  them  are  determined  to  be  saved, 
'I  will  go  also/"  and  then,  like  Zaccheus,  I  made  haste 
and  "  delayed  not  to  come  down."  I  endeavored  to  press 
my  way  through  the  congregation  as  fast  as  I  could,  till 
I  reached  the  "  circle"  inclosing  the  penitents.  I  then 
kneeled  by  the  side  of  my  brother,  and  began  to  pray, 
with  a  sincere  heart,  for  the  pardon  of  my  sins.  Al 
though,  at  that  time,  I  was  a  small  white-haired  boy,  not 
quite  thirteen  years  old,  I  felt  that  I  was  a  very  great 
sinner.  I  had  not  prayed  long  before  I  began  to  realize 
that  I  had  a  hard  and  rebellious  heart,  and  unless  it  was 


MY    CONVERSION.  73 

washed  by  the  blood  of  Calvary,  I  must  sink  to  bell 
Such  was  the  bitterness  of  my  spirit,  and  the  deep  mental 
agony  of  my  soul,  that  I  was  unconscious  of  all  that  was 
passing  around  me.  I  prayed  and  struggled  for  deliver- 
ance, without  a  moment's  interval,  for  more  than  SIX 
LONG,  weary  HOURS,  without  rising  from  my  knees.  0, 
I  then  tasted  the  "  wormwood  and  the  gall/'  and  my  soul 
hath  them  still  in  remembrance.  At  length  my  anguish 
ceased;  I  became  calm,  and  my  mind  unusually  clear 
and  reflective.  In  a  moment  my  heart  became  as  in- 
sensible as  a  stone  ;  I  could  neither  weep,  feel,  nor  pray. 
A  deep  gloom  settled  down  over  my  soul.  The  tempter 
came  in  upon  me  -'like  a  flood/'  and  suggested  to  my 
mind  that  my  fears  were  all  unnecessary;  that  I  had 
no  genuine  conviction  for  my  sins;  that  I  was  simply 
alarmed  at  seeing  my  brother  go  forward  for  prayers. 
He  also  whispered  in  my  ear,  that  I  need  not  be  in  haste 
about  so  important  a  matter;  I  was  quite  too  young  to 
become  a  Christian,  or  join  the  Church  of  God.  Un- 
fortunately, I  yielded  to  the  power  of  my  adversary;  I 
immediately  felt  an  inward  sense  of  shame,  and  regretted 
that  I  had  come  there  to  pray.  I  arose  from  my  knees, 
took  a  seat  on  the  bench,  and  covered  my  face  with  my 
hands,  for  fear  that  any  of  my  wicked  companions  should 
recognize  me  among  the  "  seekers''  of  religion.  Some 
one  approached  and  talked  to  me,  but  it  seemed  to  have 
no  effect  upon  me.  I  could  not  remain  any  longer  among 
those  who  were  so  earnestly  crying  to  God  for  mercy ;  I 
felt  I  was  not  worthy  to  be  there.  At  last,  I  was  forced 
by  the  enemy  of  souls  to  leave  the  place  of  prayer  and  go 
to  the  tent.  Satan  had  found  out  the  most  vulnerable 
point,  and  there  he  made  his  heaviest  assault.  He  knew 
very  well  that  the  argument  that  "I  was  too  young,"  was 
the  only  one  with  which  he  could  prevail ;  therefore,  he 
pressed  it  the  more  closely  upon  my  mind.     At  last  I 

7 


i-i  POOT-FRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

concluded  to  give  it  up  for  that  time,  and  resolved,  at 
some  more  "  convenient  season/'  when  of  maturer  years, 
I  would  seek  the  Savior  and  go  with  my  friends  to  glory. 
I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  go  to  heaven — in  this  purpose 
"  my  heart  was  fixed."  But  the  voice  of  Satan  con- 
stantly whispering  in  my  ear,  "  You  are  alarmed  and  too 
young,"  also  kept  me  for  a  little  season  from  making  any 
farther  efforts.  I  at  length  resolved  to  give  it  up,  and 
retired  to  bed,  hoping  I  would  be  more  composed  in  the 
morning.  But,  to  my  great  surprise,  I  found  that  I 
could  not  rest — sleep  had  "  departed  from  my  eyes,  and 
slumber  from  my  eyelids."  My  soul  had  been  pierced 
by  the  two-edged  sword  of  the  Spirit,  and  the  arrows  of 
the  Almighty  were  drinking  up  my  spirits.  I  could  find 
no  rest  for  either  mind  or  body.  3Iy  state  of  mind  was 
touchingly  described  by  Cowper's  affecting  allegory : 

"I  was  a  stricken  deer,  that  left  the  herd 
Long  since.     With  many  an  arrow  deep  infixed, 
My  panting  heart  was  charged ;  when  I  withdrew 
To  seek  a  tranquil  death  in  distant  shades. 
There  was  I  found  by  one  who  had  himself 
Been  hurt  by  the  archers.    In  his  side  he  bore, 
And  in  his  hands  and  feet  the  cruel  scars." 

The  cries  of  the  "stricken  ones"  still  at  the  altar  were 
borne  far  off  by  the  night  winds.  "I  then  communed 
with  my  own  heart,  and  was  still  upon  my  bed,"  alone 
with  my  God.  It  was  an  hour  never  to  be  forgotten.  At 
times  I  fancied  I  could  hear  the  cries  of  my  brother  go 
up  to  heaven  for  mercy.  Ever  and  anon  some  were  con- 
verted, and  the  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God 
was  very  great.  In  a  moment  the  power  of  the  tempter 
was  broken,  and  I  again  resolved  to  "  arise  and  go  to  my 
father."  I  arose  with  great  deliberation,  and  put  on  my 
clothes,  and  went  out  and  kneeled  down  again  at  the 
place  that  I  had  left  about  one  hour  before.  I  soon  be- 
gan again  to  cry  and  pray  to  God  for  pardoning  mercy. 


MY    CONVERSION.  75 

I  felt  that  the  bondage  was  over  me — the  iron  was  enter- 
ing my  soul.  My  darkness  increased  till  Despair,  with 
her  dark,  raven  wings,  spread  over  my  spirit.  At  this 
moment,  I  recognized  the  voice  of  my  brother  David 
whispering  in  my  ear  the  consoling  promises  of  the  Gos- 
pel, assuring  me  that  the  "  darkest  hour  was  just  before 
rhe  dawn  of  the  morning."  And  then  I  heard  him  re- 
mark as  follows:  "0,  my  dear  brother  Maxwell,  remem- 
ber how  long  mother  has  prayed  for  your  conversion,  and 
how  glad  she  would  be  if  the  Lord  would  make  you  his 
child  at  this  meeting.  I  have  no  doubt  she  is  praying 
for  you  now.  And  then  remember  the  Church  is  pray- 
ing, and  your  bleeding  Savior  is  pleading  your  cause 
before  the  throne  of  God  on  high. 

4  The  Father  hears  him  pray, 
His  dear  anointed  one, 
And  can  not  turn  away 
The  presence  of  his  Son.'  " 

During  all  my  agony  up  to  that  moment,  I  had  never 
thought  of  the  tears  or  prayers  of  my  affectionate  mother. 
They  now  all  passed  in  review  before  me.  I  felt  at  that 
moment  that  there  was  "  efficacy  in  prayer,"  and  there 
was  hope  for  my  soul.  I  then  looked  to  the  cross  by 
faith,  and  in  a  moment  my  burden  was  gone.  The  Sun 
of  righteousness  shined  into  my  heart,  and  I  arose  and 
shouted  aloud  for  joy,  and  continued  praising  God  till 
the  dawning  of  the  morning.  I  recollect  of  getting  up 
on  a  bench 

"  To  tell  to  sinners  round, 
What  a  dear  Savior  I  had  found." 

My  brother  William  experienced  religion  the  same  night; 
and  nearly  all  of  our  little  band  returned  home  to  "glo- 
rify God."  It  was  at  the  solemn  and  impressive  hour  of 
midnight  when  my  chains  were  severed,  and  the  "voice 
of  my  Deliverer"  cheered  my  disconsolate  soul. 


iO  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

On  our  way  home,  we  made  the  u  grand  old  woods  "  on 
the  river  hills  in  Kentucky,  vocal  with  our  songs  of  re- 
deeming love.  Before  our  arrival,  however,  some  one  had 
conveyed  the  intelligence  to  my  dear  mother.  She  saw 
us  coming,  and  stood  at  the  gate  to  receive  us.  The  joy 
of  that  meeting  may  be  imagined,  but  it  can  not  be  por- 
trayed by  human  tongue  or  pencil.  I  learned  this 
striking  fact  from  my  mother,  that  on  the  Sabbath  night 
of  my  conversion  she  had  resolved  to  spend  the  forepart 
of  that  evening  in  prayer,  for  the  conversion  of  her  two 
sons  at  the  camp-ground  in  Kentucky.  Toward  eleven 
o'clock  she  was  powerfully  tempted  to  give  up  the  strug- 
gle, just  about  the  time  the  tempter  obtained  the  victory 
over  my  soul  at  the  altar.  But  not  long  after  this  as- 
sault, she  renewed  the  conflict,  and  " prevailed"  in  driv- 
ing the  enemy  from  the  field.  She  importuned  God  with 
"  strong  cries  and  tears/'  and  "  wrestled "  in  mighty 
prayer  with  the  "  angel  of  the  covenant "  till  nature  was 
nearly  exhausted. 

"  What  though  my  shrinking  flesh  complain, 
And  murmur  to  contend  so  long? 
I  rise  superior  to  my  pain. 

When  I  am  weak  then  am  I  strong, 

And  when  my  all  of  strength  shall  fail, 

I  shall  with  the  God-man  prevail." 

At  last  her  prayer  was  heard.  She  felt  that  it  was  an- 
swered. The  joy  of  her  spirit  was  inexpressible.  She 
beard  the  Savior  say,  "  0,  woman,  great  is  thy  faith;  be 
it  unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt."  Who  can  tell  the  power 
and  efficiency  of  a  mother's  prayers  ?  Her  love  can  only 
be  excelled  by  the  love  of  God.  The  love  of  God  is 
changeless,  and  without  a  parallel.     Isa.  xlix,  15,  16. 

"What  tongue  can  paint  a  mother's  love 
To  the  sweet  infant  dandled  in  her  arms; 
What  argument  need  her  compassion  move 
To  bear  it  cry  or  keep  it  in  its  harms! 


CALL    TO     THE     MINISTRY.  77 

Yet  if  one  mother  wGre  possessed 
Of  all  the  love,  "within  her  single  breast, 
Of  all  the  mothers  since  the  world  began, 
'Tis  nothing  to  the  love  of  God  to  max." 


CHAPTER    IX. 

CALL    TO     THE     MINISTRY. 

It  was  not  long  after  I  had  experienced  a  change  of 
heart  till  I  felt  that  I  was  "inwardly  moved  hy  the  Holy 
Ghost"  to  preach  the  Gospel.  I  tried  to  banish  this  con- 
viction from  my  mind  in  every  way  that  I  could,  but  it 
was  strengthened  every  year.  My  irreligious  acquaint- 
ances began  early  to  predict  that  I  would  become  a  minis- 
ter, should  Providence  spare  my  life.  These  assertions 
annoyed  me  exceedingly.  I  had  no  desire  for  such  an 
honorable  office,  and  feared  I  had  but  imperfect  qualifica- 
tions for  the  discharge  of  its  sacred  duties.  The  Church 
had  her  eyes  upon  me,  and  when  only  nineteen  years  of 
age,  desired  me  to  engage  in  the  work  of  the  ministry 
without  delay,  not  doubting  that  God  had  called  me  by 
his  Spirit,  but  I  obstinately  refused.  My  relatives  and 
brethren  importuned  me  also  in  vain  to  commence  the 
work  of  the  ministry  at  that  period.  At  length  the  late 
Rev.  William  Allen,  junior  preacher  on  Straight  Creek 
circuit,  without  my  knowledge  or  desire,  brought  my  case 
before  the  society,  and  obtained  permission  that  I  should 
receive  license  to  exhort,  according  to  the  usual  custom 
of  the  Church.  On  making  known  what  he  had  done,  he 
was  informed  by  those  better  acquainted  with  the  Disci- 
pline than  himself,  that  it  was  not  his  prerogative  thus  to 
act,  but  the  duty  of  his  senior  in  office,  the  preacher  in 
charge  of  the  circuit.     Of  course  all  the  action  in  the 


73  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

case  was  "null  and  void."  This  was  a  matter  of  quite  aa 
deep  mortification  to  brother  Allen  as  it  was  of  secret 
gratulation  to  myself.  I  vainly  supposed  that  the  matter 
would  end  here,  and  my  conscience  would  be  at  rest  in 
time  to  come;  but,  to  my  surprise,  a  few  months  before 
the  close  of  that  same  year,  the  preacher  in  charge,  Rev. 
Elijah  H.  Field,  brought  my  case  forward  again,  and  ob- 
tained another  recommendation  from  the  society  of  which 
I  was  a  member,  and,  on  the  subsequent  day,  handed  me 
the  following  license : 

"These  are  to  authorize  our  brother,  Maxwell  P.  Gad- 
dis,  to  exercise  his  gifts  as  an  exhorter  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  so  long  as  his  doctrine,  practice,  and 
usefulness  comport  with  the  Discipline  of  said  Church. 

"Done  at  Ripley,  Ohio,  by  consent  of  the  class. 

"Elijah  II.  Field,  P.  C. 

"AUGCST    1,    1830." 

This  license  was  renewed  at  the  last  quarterly  meeting 
for  S.  circuit,  held  at  the  Ash  Ridge  meeting-house, 
August  14,  1830.  After  this  transpired  the  conflict  in 
my  own  mind,  which  had  raged  with  violence,  increased. 
The  members  of  the  Church  were  constantly  urging  me 
to  go  forward,  and  the  ministers  called  upon  me  almost 
every-where  I  went  to  take  some  part  in  the  public  exer- 
cises. This  course  soon  became  an  intolerable  burden, 
and  destroyed  much  of  my  religious  comforts  in  the  serv- 
ice of  God.  To  avoid  being  annoyed  in  this  way,  I 
often  attended  the  preaching  of  other  denominations.  I 
dreaded  the  cross,  and  shunned  it  whenever  I  could. 
Occasionally  I  would  yield  to  the  importunities  of  the 
preachers,  ana  exercise  my  "gift  of  exhortation."  But 
this  course  only  increased  my  unhappiness  after  the 
effort  was  past.  I  could  never  successfully  resist  the 
inicard  conviction  that  I  was  called  of  God  to  the  work 
of  the  ministry.     But  I  was  afraid  of  the  responsibility, 


CALL    TO    THE    MINISTRY.  79 

and  determined  I  would  not  yield.  I  hardly  ever  ex- 
horted, unless  compelled  to  do  so.  I  will  here  relate  an 
amusing  incident  of  this  character,  which  transpired  at 
the  town  of  G.  I  was  returning  from  a  wedding,  and 
stopped  in  that  place  to  spend  the  Sabbath.  Rev.  B. 
Westlake  was  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon  of  a  young 
Mr.  S.,  and  requested  me  to  exhort,  but  I  very  respect- 
fully declined.  He  urged  me  with  still  greater  earnestness 
to  comply,  but  I  as  sternly  and  promptly  refused.  As  we 
were  about  to  enter  the  church  he  asked  me  th«  third 
time,  but  I  resolved  not  to  do  it,  and  said  "jSto,"  in  the 
most  positive  manner.  At  this  he  seemed  much  grieved, 
and  then  told  me  that  he  would  feel  called  upon  to  exer- 
cise his  ecclesiastical  authority,  and  compel  me  to  dis- 
charge my  duty  on  that  occasion.  At  this  I  laughed 
most  heartily,  and  told  him  I  hoped  he  would  not  attempt- 
in  any  public  manner  to  coerce  me,  or  he  would  regret  it 
thereafter  on  his  account  as  well  as  my  own.  He  replied, 
"Very  well,  I  will  see  to  that  matter.  You  are  a  stranger 
here,  and  might  do  some  of  the  young  people  good  by 
an  exhortation  on  this  solemn  occasion."  I  then  walked 
into  the  church  and  took  a  seat  in  the  back  part  of  the 
congregation,  just  as  far  from  the  pulpit  as  I  could  get. 
Brother  B.  was  not  to  be  foiled  in  this  way.  As  soon  as 
the  sermon  was  concluded  he  paused  for  a  moment,  and 
then  cried  aloud:  "Brother  Gaddis,  come  up  into  the 
pulpit  and  close  with  an  exhortation !"  The  congrega- 
tion seemed  startled,  and  all  looked  around  to  see  where 
I  was  seated.  This  increased  my  embarrassment  a  hun- 
dred fold,  and  I  held  down  my  head;  whereupon  brother 
B.  cried  out  again  in  the  most  peremptory  manner: 
"Brother  Gaddis!  come  up  and  exhort  I"  His  voice, 
naturally  heavy,  seemed  to  fall  on  my  ear  like  thunder. 
X  understood  well  the  resoluteness  and  firmness  of  the 
man,  and  that  nothing  would  be  gained  by  sitting  still 


SO  POOT-PRINTS     Of     AN     ITINERANT. 

in  my  place  of  concealment ;  and  for  fear  of  being  called 
the  third  time,  I  concluded  to  go  forward  and  close  the 
exercises  by  singing  and  prayer.  But  unfortunately  for 
me,  after  having  announced  the  page  of  the  hymn,  I 
turned  to  brother  B.,  and  stooped  down  behind  the  pulpit, 
and,  in  an  undertone  of  voice,  made  known  my  intention. 
He  caught  me  gently  by  the  collar,  and,  looking  me 
sternly  in  the  face,  said:  '-Exhort,  sir!  or  else  take  your 
seat.  I  did  not  invite  you  up  here  to  sing  and  pray;  I 
could  do  that  myself.  I  want  you  to  exhort  these  young 
a  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come;  and  if  you  will 
not  do  it,  I  will  not  permit  you  to  take  any  part  in  the 
closing  services. "  I  was  overwhelmed  with  confusion. 
The  congregation  was  waiting,  and  I  saw  no  way  of 
escape.  I  addressed  myself  to  the  task,  and  did  just  as 
well  as  I  possibly  could  under  such  embarrassing  circum- 
stances.    In  my  judgment  nothing  was  said  either  to  the 

d  01  edification  of  the  audience.  If  no  other  good 
was  done  I  felt  that  I  was  conquered,  and  the  pride  of  my 
heart  greatly  humbled.  Before  leaving  the  house  I  made 
a  voluntary  promise  to  do  better  in  the  future.  Good 
brother  A.  R.  came  up  and  said:  "  Your  exhortation  was 
sweet,  but  quite  too  short.'' 

Foi  many  years  I  never  mentioned  my  convictions  of 

or  the  conflict  that  was  raging  within,  even  to  my 
most  intimate  friends.     The  fire  was  consuming  me,  and 

feet  on  my  mind  soon  began  to  show  itself  in  the 
impaired  state  of  mj-  general  health.  At  length  I  con- 
cluded to  make  known  my  impressions  of  duty  to  a  local 
preacher  that  was  employed  with  me  in  the  same  store. 
At  a  time  when  business  was  dull  I  asked  him  if  he 
would  not  take  a  walk  with  me  in  the  suburbs  of  the 
town,  as  I  had  something  of  importance  which  I  wished 
to  communicate?  He  cordially  consented,  and  we  con- 
tinued our  walk  for  some  time  before  I  had  moral  courage 


CALL    TO    THE    MINISTRY.  81 

to  introduce  the  subject.  We  stopped  to  rest  at  a  num- 
ber of  suitable  places  for  private  conversation,  but  still  I 
could  not  make  known  the  smothered  emotions  of  my 
soul.  At  length  we  returned  and  entered  the  market- 
house,  not  far  from  the  store.  My  feelings  overcame  me 
and  I  burst  into  tears.  Mr.  P.  wept  also,  as  I  there  re- 
vealed to  him  all  that  was  in  my  heart  in  regard  to  my 
call  to  preach.  He  remarked:  "I  knew  all  about  it  long 
ago."  This  surprised  me  exceedingly.  On  seeing  which 
he  explained  by  saying  that  no  one  had  said  any  thing 
to  him  on  the  subject,  but  from  the  character  of  my 
public  exercises  as  an  exhorter,  he  was  long  since  con- 
vinced that  I  was  called  of  God  to  the  work  of  the 
Christian  ministry.  He  then  proffered  very  kindly  to 
assist  me  pecuniarily,  and  exhorted  me  to  "yield  at  once 
and  go  into  the  itinerancy;"  and  closed  by  saying,  "un- 
less you  do,  I  fear  you  will  become  very  unhappy,  and,  in 
the  end,  may  lose  your  soul."  This  conversation  made 
a  very  deep  impression  on  my  heart;  but  I  was  "disobe- 
dient to  the  heavenly  vision."  I  tried  to  immerse  myself 
in  the  business  of  the  world  in  such  a  manner  as  to  pre- 
clude the  possibility  of  going  at  that  time.  My  heavenly 
Father  then  saw  that  it  was  necessary  to  afflict  me,  so  that 
I  was  soon  unable  to  attend  to  business  of  any  kind. 
This  afforded  me  ample  time  for  reflection  and  prayer, 
and  as  soon  as  I  promised  the  Lord  I  would  discharge  my 
duty,  I  recovered  my  former  state  of  health  speedily.  I 
still  felt,  however,  unwilling  to  discharge  religious  duties 
in  public.  I  was  now  more  unhappy  than  ever,  and  re- 
solved to  go  into  some  more  lucrative  business,  but  every 
attempt  was  overruled  by  a  wise  and  gracious  Providence. 
I  soon  became  very  unwell  again,  and  resolved  to  travel 
from  home,  which  afforded  me  little  or  no  relief  either  in 
mind  or  body.  After  this  I  entered  college,  but  before 
the  close  of  the  year  I  was  compelled  by  indisposition  to 


82  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

desist  from  the  further  prosecution  of  ray  studies.  This 
was  always  a  source  of  great  unhappiness,  for  I  was  very 
anxious  to  complete  my  college  course.  I  again  engaged 
myself  as  a  salesman  in  a  store,  and  resolved  fully  to 
qualify  myself  for  business,  and  banish  from  my  mind  all 
thoughts  of  the  ministry.  For  a  short  season  when  in 
the  "busy  mart,"  I  was  perfectly  happy,  but,  alas!  it  was 
not  long  before  my  convictions  of  long-neglected  duty 
returned  with  double  force.  When  alone  I  was  constantly 
pondering  it  over  in  my  mind,  and  at  Church  I  was  in 
great  dread  for  fear  the  minister  would  call  upon  me  to 
take  a  part  in  the  closing  exercises.  Often  on  returning 
from  Church  I  was  deeply  impressed  with  these  solemn 
words:  MA  dispensation  of  the  Gospel  is  committed  to 
me;  woe  is  me  if  I  preach  not  the  Gospel  \"  I  felt  miser- 
able by  night  and  by  day.  I  often  wept,  and  sung  as  I 
walked  by  myself  in  the  woods, 

u  The  harvest-fields  are  ripening, 

And  the  laborers  are  few, 
And  Zion  now  doth  languish — 

0  shepherds,  where  are  you? 
Their  blood  will  cry  against  you, 

If  idle  you  should  be  ; 
You  see  the  sword  is  coming, 

Go  sound  the  jubilee." 


CHAPTER  X. 

CAMP    MEETING    SCENE. 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  first  forming  an  acquaintance 
with  Eev.  William  B.  Christie,  in  the  year  1832,  at  a 
camp  meeting,  a  few  miles  north-west  of  Russelville,  in 
Brown  county,  on  the  waters  of  Straight  creek.  Among 
the  distinguished  ministers  present  on  that  memorable 
occasion,  were  Rev.  James  B.  Finley  and  Rev.  Henry  B. 


CAMP    MEETING     SCENE.  83 

Bascorn,  D.  D.,  and  several  others,  whose  names  are  not 
now  remembered. 

I  was  then  living  at  Ripley,  a  pleasant  town  on  the 
Ohio  river,  and  was  one  of  a  number  of  young  men  who 
resolved  on  getting  up  what  is  technically  called  "A 
Union  Tent/'  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  above- 
named  meeting.  On  Saturday,  the  time  fixed  for  its 
commencement,  we  set  off  early  for  the  encampment. 
The  morning  was  cool  and  pleasant,  and  we  soon  arrived 
in  safety  at  the  place  of  destination.  On  our  arrival  at 
the  grove,  we  found  that  the  morning  service  had  com- 
menced ;  the  Rev.  Burroughs  Westlake  was  preaching 
powerfully,  in  his  peculiar  manner,  from  this  text:  "Is 
there  no  balm  in  Gilead,  and  is  there  no  physician 
there  ?  Why  then  is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter  of 
my  people  recovered?"  "While  the  minister  progressed 
with  his  discourse,  the  area  in  front  of  the  stand,  and 
especially  the  outer  circle  in  the  rear  of  the  tents,  pre- 
sented a  scene  of  great  commotion,  by  the  constant  ar- 
rival of  new  tent-holders.  Before  the  close  of  the 
sermon,  the  most  intense  excitement  prevailed  through- 
out the  entire  encampment ;  yet  no  one,  not  even  the 
preacher,  attached  blame  to  the  conduct  of  the  occupants 
of  the  finished  tents,  or  the  hurry  and  confusion  among 
the  "new-comers."  The  face  of  the  whole  heavens  was 
overspread  with  thick  clouds,  in  consequence  of  which 
all  not  engaged  in  worship  at  the  stand  were  busily  em- 
ployed in  "tightening  their  canvas,"  or  fixing  as  well  as 
they  could  the  clapboard  roofs  of  their  little  log  tents. 
Nearly  every  family  was  busily  engaged  in  making  the 
best  possible  arrangements  to  protect  themselves  and 
friends  from  the  threatened  shower.  In  company  with 
my  young  companions,  I  was  engaged  in  assisting  to  erect 
ihe  "Union  Tent"  on  a  corner  lot,  a  few  rods  distant 
from  the  preachers'  stand.    When  brother  Westlake  closed 


M  FOOT  -PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

■HMD,  an  unusual  anxiety  was  depicted  in  every 
countenance,  and  some  looked  sad  and  gloomy.  All  were 
of  the  opinion  that  the  services  of  the  meeting  would 
soon  be  seriously  interrupted,  if  not  entirely  broken  off, 
by  the  coming  tempest.  A  storm  in  the  wild  wood! 
How  alarming  to  the  weak  and  timorous  !  I  have  never 
witnessed  a  heavy  thunder-storm  without  the  deepest 
i  ■oiimi  of  awe  and  reverence.  At  this  moment  an  op- 
ve  silence  reigned  throughout  the  encampment, 
while  the  muttering  thunders  were  heard  in  the  distant 
heavens. 

■•A  BnmdesMiotm!  Hie  eloquence  of  heaven, 
When  every  cloud  is  from  its  slumber  driven, 
Who  hath  not  paused  amid  its  hollow  groan, 
And  felt  Omnipotence  around  him  thr: 
With  what  a  gloom  the  ushering  scene  appears, 
lO  fluttering  with  instinctive  fears, 
The  waters  curii'.  mth      fellow  dread, 
A  h  rvor  round  creation  spr^ 

And  last  the  heavy  rain's  reluctant  shower. 

iHk  big  drops  pattering  on  the  tree  and  bower, 
While  wizzard  shapes  the  lowering  sky  deform, 
All  mark  the  coming  of  the  thun.iv:  -' 

At  this  solemn  hour  I  saw  Rev.  William  B.  Christie 
for  the  first  time.  He  ascended  the  stand  to  close  the 
je.  His  voice  at  first  was  low.  but  sweet  and  melo- 
dious; but  as  he  proceeded  to  line  out  Cowper's  beauti- 
ful and  well-known  hymn,  commencing, 

"  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way, 
His  wonders  to  perform  ; 
He  plants  his  footsteps  in  the  sea, 
And  rides  upon  the  storm/' 

in  the  congregation  were  riveted  upon  the 
stranger.  With  the  reading  and  singing  of  each  verse 
of  that  appropriate  hymn,  the  devotional  feeling  in- 
creased in  the  audience  till  the  tear  of  joy  sparkled  in 
many  an  eye;  while  the  hearty  "amen"  gave  additional 


CAMP    MEETING    SCENE.  85 

interest  to  the  scene.  At  the  close  of  the  hymn  the  as- 
sembly kneeled  in  prayer,  while  the  voice  of  the  stranger 
was  lifted  to  the  throne  of  grace.  At  first  the  faint 
whispers  of  his  voice  were  scarcely  audible,  owing  to 
preparations  in  the  rear  of  the  stand  for  a  "  rainy  day." 
But  as  the  preacher  breathed  out  the  desires  of  a  bur- 
dened heart  in  a  soft  and  subdued  tone  of  voice,  a  solemn 
and  awful  stillness  fell  on  the  entire  encampment.  He 
had  not  continued  long  in  prayer  till  all  within  the  area 
of  tents,  and  in  the  rear,  and  on  all  sides  of  the  ground, 
fell  upon  their  knees,  or  assumed  a  devotional  posture. 
It  was  but  a  short  time  till  the  sharp  crack  of  the  wagon- 
er's whip,  and  the  sound  of  the  ax  in  the  surrounding 
grove,  had  died  away.  At  last  not  a  voice  or  the  sound 
of  a  solitary  footfall  on  the  withered  leaves  disturbed  the 
stillness  of  our  devotions.  The  whole  scene  conspired  to 
remind  one  of  the  address  to  the  Hebrew  prophet,  "Take 
off  thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet;  for  the  place  whereon 
thou  standest  is  holy  ground. "  It  was  soon  apparent, 
even  to  the  careless,  that  no  ordinary  personage  was  lead- 
ing the  devotion  of  the  people  of  God  at  that  hour. 
Brother  Christie,  after  praying  for  the  sanctification  of 
the  people  of  God,  the  conversion  of  sinners,  and  the 
success  of  the  meeting  in  general,  began  to  plead  most 
eloquently  with  almighty  God,  if  consistent  with  his 
will  in  the  government  of  the  world,  to  "stop  up  the 
bottles  of  heaven"  and  give  us  "fair  weather"  in  which 
to  continue  our  worship  in  the  tented  grove.  Never 
shall  I  forget  the  sublime  portions  of  the  word  of  God 
which  were  quoted  in  his  prayer,  with  great  power  and 
singular  appropriateness.  I  will  name  a  few ;  such  as, 
"Behold  God  is  great;  for  he  maketh  small  the  drops  of 
water:  they  pour  down  rain  according  to  the  vapor  there- 
of, which  the  clouds  do  drop  and  distill  upon  man 
abundantly.     For  he  saith  to  the  snow,  Be  thou  on  the 


S6  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AX    ITINERANT. 

earth ;  likewise  the  small  rain,  and  the  great  rain  of  his 
strength  Also,  by  watering  he  wearieth  the  thick  cloud : 
he  scattereth  his  bright  cloud.  And  it  is  turned  round 
about,  so  that  they  may  do  whatsoever  he  commandeth 
them  upon  the  face  of  the  world  in  the  earth."  He  also 
addressed  the  Almighty  as  the  God  of  providence — as 
able  to  send  or  withhold  the  rain  at  his  pleasure — as 
causing  it  to  come  for  "  correction  for  his  land  or  for 
mercy."  and  as  '-'causing  it  to  rain  on  one  city  and  not 
on  another;"  and  as  working  every  thing  after  the  coun- 
sels of  his  own  will,  and  that  "  snow  and  vapor,  stormy 
wind,  rain  and  hail,"  all  fulfilled  his  word,  and  then 
quoted,  with  pathos  and  resistless  power,  the  entire  his- 
tory of  Elijah  on  Blount  Carmel,  and  closed  by  quoting  a 
verse  from  the  hymn  sung  at  the  close  of  the  sermon  : 

"  Judge  not  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense, 
But  trust  him  for  his  grace, 
Behind  a  frowning  providence 
He  hides  a  smiling  face." 

Never  till  that  day  had  I  known  so  fully  the  power  and 
efficacy  of  prayer;  and  never  before  did  I  witness  such  a 
striking  and  remarkable  answer  to  prayer.  The  minister 
on  that  occasion  seemed  to  converse  with  God  "face  to 
face,"  as  a  man  with  his  friend.  As  the  petitioner  ap- 
proached nearer,  and  nearer  still  the  "mercy-seat," 
sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God,  his  faith 
waxed  stronger  and  stronger  till  "he  prevailed  with 
God  ;"  and  the  humble,  fervent  prayer  of  the  suppliant 
was  almost  instantly  answered.  Hundreds  of  "  living 
witnesses"  at  this  day  would  unite  their  testimony  to 
mine  in  confirmation  of  this  wonderful  interposition  of 
God  in  answer  to  the  prayer  of  his  faithful  servant.  Be- 
fore the  close  of  that  ever-memorable  prayer,  all  felt  that 
"the  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  over  the  righteous,  and  that  his 
ear  is  open  unto  their  cry,"  and  that  the  effectual,  fervent 


CAMP    MEETING     SCENE.  87 

prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much.  Before  he 
''left  off  speaking/'  or  while  he  was  yet  praying,  God 
turned  aside  the  storm,  and  the  bright  cerulean  was  seen 
through  the  disparting  clouds.  Never  did  a  more  cheer- 
ful and  luminous  light  gladden  the  hearts  of  God's 
ancient  people  in  the  wilderness  than  shone  out  upon  the 
tents  of  our  Israel  in  the  grove  that  day.  As  it  respects 
my  own  observation,  I  had  never  seen  it  on  this  wise  be- 
fore. That  was  a  memorable  day  to  sinners,  "  And  there 
was  no  day  like  that  before,  or  after  it,  that  the  Lord 
hearkened  unto  the  voice  of  a  man."  I  know  that  a 
skeptical  philosophy  will  sneer  at  this  statement,  and  ob- 
ject to  it  as  being  inconsistent  with  the  unchangeableness 
of  God.  I  reply,  facts  speak  for  themselves.  The  Bible 
abounds  with  many  encouraging  examples  of  the  efficacy 
of  prayer.  "I  do  not  say  that  prayer  has  any  inherent 
efficacy  to  move  God — like  every  other  means,  like  the 
food  we  eat,  it  derives  its  efficacy  from  the  appointment 
of  God — but  we  do  say  that  pra}~er  is  a  condition  on 
which  it  seems  good  to  God  to  put  forth  his  power.  In 
the  whole  compass  of  divinely-appointed  means,  prayer 
occupies,  the  highest  place  and  possesses  the  mightiest 
efficacy.  And  why  ?  It  passes  by  all  secondary  means, 
and  makes  its  way  right  straight  to  God;  it  puts  aside 
every  human  hand,  and  goes  at  once  to  the  arm  of  God, 
enters  the  presence  of  the  Eternal,  and  makes  its  appear- 
ance at  his  throne.  There  it  enables  the  suppliant  to 
take  hold  of  the  strength  of  God,  and  in  a  sense  iden- 
tifies himself  with  the  Almighty  Power."  It  was  so  in 
the  case  to  which  I  have  just  referred.  An  infidel,  who 
had  just  rode  up  on  horseback  in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit, 
was  awakened  during  the  prayer,  and  sought  religion 
during  that  meeting,  and  at  the  close  of  brother  Chris- 
tie's sermon  on  the  next  Monday  morning,  joined  the 
Church,  and  lived  a  useful  member  of  the  Church  the 


S3  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

many  years,  and  now  swells  the  number  of  the  redeemed 
in  heaven. 

On  Sabbath,  at  11  A.  M.,  Rev.  H.  B.  Bascoin,  1).  D., 
preached  a  most  eloquent  and  pathetic  discourse,  from. 
"  All  hail  !  he  is  risen."  Brother  Christie  preach- 
ed on  Monday  morning,  from,  "  There  hath  no  temp- 
tation taken  you,  but  such  as  is  common  to  man; 
but  God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer  you  to  be  tempted 
above  that  ye  are  able,  but  will  with  the  temptation  also 
make  a  way  to  escape,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  bear  it." 
The  sermon  was  argumentative  throughout,  and  produced 
a  powerful  impression  on  the  minds  of  the  audience.  It 
was  the  first  time  Dr.  Bascom  had  heard  him,  and  in  my 
hearing  he  pronounced  the  discourse  a  "  masterly  ef- 
fort;" and,  I  may  add,  such  was  the  opinion  of  the 
audience.  If,  at  the  commencement  of  our  meeting,  like 
one  of  old,  he  "  prevailed  with  God,"  as  an  intercessor  at 
the  throne  of  grace,  at  its  close  in  the  pulpit,  he  was 
u  approved  unto  God  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed."  He  was  of  "convincing  speech,"  and,  like 
Apollos,  "  mighty  in  the  Scriptures." 

After  parting  with  brother  Christie  at  the  Russelville 
camp  meeting,  I  did  not  see  him  again  till  I  entered  the 
traveling  connection.  I  then  had  frequent  opportunities 
of  hearing  him  preach  at  quarterly  meetings  and  on 
popular  occasions.  As  a  profound  theologian  and  suc- 
cessful embassador  of  the  King  of  kings,  brother  Christie 
had  no  superior.  The  pulpit,  pre-eminently,  was  the 
theater  of  his  greatness,  and  the  sufferings,  death,  and 
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  themes  upon  which  he 
delighted  to  dwell.  His  preaching  at  our  second  quar- 
terly meeting  on  White  Oak  circuit,  in  the  town  of 
Bethel,  was  attended  with  matchless  displays  of  the  power 
of  God.  The  sermon  on  Sabbath  morning  was  especially 
attended  with    uncommon    unction.     I   had    never   wit- 


CAMP    MEETING    SCENE.  89 

nessed  any  thing  like  it  before  or  since.  It  had  an  over- 
whelming effect  upon  the  audience.  I  will  endeavor  to 
give  a  brief  description  of  the  whole  scene  as  it  passed 
oefore  me  on  that  never-to-be-forgotten  occasion.  At 
the  close  of  the  solemn  and  impressive  introductory 
services,  brother  Christie  announced  as  his  text  the 
beautiful  words  of  St.  Peter,  "  Blessed  be  the  God  and 
father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which,  according  to  his 
abundant  mercy,  hath  begotten  us  again  to  a  lively  hope, 
by  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead,  to  an 
inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not 
away,  reserved  in  heaven  for  you,  who  are  kept  by  the 
power  of  God,  through  faith,  unto  salvation,  ready  to  be 
revealed  in  the  last  day."  The  theme  or  burden  of  the 
discourse  was  the  resurrection  of  Christ  from  the  dead — 
a  subject  with  which  the  mind  of  the  speaker  was  per- 
fectly familiar.  On  all  occasions  brother  Christie  was 
fluent  in  language,  chaste  in  diction,  and  strong  in  argu- 
ment, evincing  a  critical  knowledge  of  the  peculiar  doc- 
trines of  the  Gospel.  I  never  heard  him  argue  with  the 
same  power  and  clearness  as  on  that  occasion.  He  rea- 
soned like  a  "wise  master  builder"  for  more  than  an  hour 
and  thirty  minutes.  He  did  not  fail  to  carry  conviction 
to  the  understanding  and  conscience  of  the  enchained 
multitude,  who  listened  with  breathless  attention  to  the 
words  of  wisdom  that  fell  from  his  lips.  Having  refuted 
every  infidel  objection  brought  against  the  resurrection 
of  Christ,  and  vanquished  all  his  most  subtile  adversaries, 
and  " spoiled  them  of  their  armor/'  rising  with  the  in- 
spiration of  his  subject,  he  began  to  speak  of  the  "in- 
heritance incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not 
away,"  with  a  fervor  and  pathos  that  could  only  be  im- 
parted by  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  effect  of  his  triumphant 
peroration,  no  language  can  possibly  describe.  As  he 
continued  to  speak  in  the  most  eloquent  and  soul-stirring 


00  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

strains  of  the  fadeless  inheritance,  he  seemed  as  if 
"  caught  up  to  the  third  heavens,"  and  was  simply  de- 
scribing with  confidence, 

«  What  lie  had  felt  and  seen." 

And  as  he  spoke  of  the  certainty  of  its  "  revelation/'  at 
the  last  day,  unto  all  such  as  are  u  kept  by  the  power  of 
God  through  faith,"  the  effect  upon  the  audience  was 
electric,  and  almost  overpowering.  I  was  alone  with  him 
in  the  pulpit;  my  colleague  and  other  ministers  present 
had  taken  seats  in  the  altar,  that  they  might  be  able  tc 
hear  and  see  the  speaker  to  better  advantage.  On  a 
sudden,  while  soaring  upward  on  the  "wings  of  faith/' 
and  speaking  of  our  future  inheritance  in  strains  "as 
sweet  as  angels  use,"  he  threw  his  arms  in  a  circular 
form  above  his  head — a  gesture  peculiar  to  himself,  and 
one  that  characterized  his  last  dying  moments — and  then, 
suiting  the  action  to  his  words,  he  stepped  up  on  the  seat 
by  my  side,  in  the  rear  of  the  old  pulpit,  and  pointed 
upward  to  heaven,  apparently  unconscious  of  the  extraor- 
dinary influence  he  was  exerting  upon  his  audience. 
The  "power  of  Christ  rested  upon  him,"  and  an  un- 
earthly radiance  was  visible  in  his  countenance.  An 
intelligent  lady  has  frequently  told  me,  the  appearance  of 
brother  Christie  at  the  moment  he  assumed  his  position 
on  the  seat  in  front  of  the  pulpit  window,  was  not  earthly, 
but  "angelic;"  and  that  with  the  circular  motion  of 
his  arms  a  rainbow  of  glory  seemed  to  encircle  his  per- 
son, and  sit  enthroned  upon  his  brow.  But  it  was  not 
long  after  this  till  the  sweet  and  melting  strains  of  this 
highly-honored  "legate  of  the  skies,"  were  drowned  by 
the  piercing  cries  of  the  penitent,  and  the  loud  hosan- 
nas  of  the  "redeemed  of  the  Lord."  Some  of  the 
ministers  in  the  altar  arose  from  their  seats  and  em- 
braced each  ether  with  joyful  hearts;  after  which,  they 


CAMP    MEETING     SCENE.  91 

eank  down  prostrate  for  a  season,  on  the  floor,  and  then 
shouted  aloud  in  honor  of  Him  "who  was  dead,  but  is 
alive  again."  The  congregation  was  completely  over- 
whelmed with  the  majesty  and  glory  of  God.  Sinners 
cried  for  mercy,  backsliders  were  restored,  and  the  people 
of  God  were  clad  with  the  garments  of  praise,  and 
shouted  for  joy  and  gladness  of  heart.  Every  one  was 
ready  to  exclaim,  "  How  dreadful  is  this  place  !  this  is 
none  other  but  the  house  of  God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of 
heaven."  It  was  more  than  one  hour  after  the  close  of 
the  sermon  before  the  congregation  retired  from  that 
sacred  mount  of  Gospel  privilege. 

"  How  sweet  and  awful  is  the  place, 
With  Christ  within  the  doors, 
Where  everlasting  Love  displays 
The  choicest  of  her  stores !" 

Such,  dear  reader,  is  only  a  faint  outline  of  a  scene  of 
which  I  was  permitted  to  be  an  eye-witness.  "  When 
the  multitude  saw  it  they  glorified  God,  which  had  given 
such  power  unto  men."  Others  "mocked,"  while  some 
"were  amazed  and  filled  with  fear,"  and  returned  to  their 
homes,  saying,  "We  have  seen  strange  things  to- 
day." 

It  was  no  uncommon  occurrence  for  brother  Christie  to 
close  his  sermons  by  falling  upon  his  knees  to  make  his 
final  appeal  to  the  unconverted  portion  of  his  audience. 
At  such  times  his  fervent  appeals  to  the  hearts  and  con- 
sciences of  the  ungodly  were  irresistible,  and  often  at- 
tended with  happy  results.  On  one  occasion,  while 
preaching  at  Georgetown,  at  the  close  of  a  powerful 
and  argumentative  sermon,  he  fell  upon  his  knees  and 
began  to  plead  with  sinners,  "  in  Christ's  stead,"  to  be- 
come reconciled  to  God.  It  was  not  long  afterward  till 
nearly  all  the  congregation  rose  up  and  voluntarily  fell 
upon  their  knees  also.     The  scene  was  similar  to  the  one 


92  FOOT- PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

at  the  laying  of  the  foundation  of  the  second  temple  J 
some  wept  with  a  loud  voice,  and  many  shouted  aloud  for 
joy,  so  that  the  people  could  not  discern  the  noise  of 
the  shout  of  joy  from  the  noise  of  the  weeping  of  the 
people;  for  "the  people  shouted  with  a  great  shout,  and 
the  noise  was  heard  afar  off."  At  this  time  I  was  sitting 
in  the  remotest  corner  from  the  pulpit ;  near  me  several 
young  men  were  still  sitting  on  their  seats.  A  brother 
P.,  a  most  singular  man,  but  full  of  faith  and  the 
Holy  Spirit,  cried  out  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "In  the 
name  of  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah,  I  command  you  to  get 
upon  your  knees  also,  and  ask  God  to  have  mercy  upon 
your  souls,  and  save  you  from  the  damnation  of  hell." 
They  almost  instantly  obeyed  his  positive  command,  and 
the  whole  audience  were  upon  their  knees  while  brother 
Christie  finished  his  eloquent  appeals. 

At  the  close  of  that  same  meeting,  he  made  the  most 
solemn  appeal  to  the  unconverted  that  I  ever  heard  from 
human  lips.  It  was  at  the  close  of  a  solemn  sacramental 
service.  He  commenced  his  address  by  saying,  "Go 
home,  aged  sinner,  and  as  you  pass  over  the  threshold 
of  the  sanctuary,  remember;"  and  then  addressing  the 
young  men  in  the  same  manner,  he  said,  "  Go  home,  and 
as  you  go,  remember,"  etc.  Such  pungent  and  heart- 
searching  appeals  I  had  never  heard  before.  When  the 
benediction  was  pronounced,  the  audience  dispersed 
without  exchanging  the  customary  greetings  or  kind 
words  of  parting.  It  was  like  the  parting  of  friends  and 
neighbors  at  the  grave  of  some  loved  friend.  Every  one 
seemed  deeply  engaged  with  his  own  heart,  as  if  soon  to 
appear  at  the  "judgment-seat  of  Christ,  to  give  an  ac- 
count of  himself." 


SCENES    AT    A    WATERING-PLACE.  Go 


CHAPTER    XI. 

SCENES    AT    A   FASHIONABLE    WATERING-PLACE. 

In  consequence  of  the  distressed  state  of  my  mind,  my 
health  began  rapidly  to  decline,  and  my  physician  advised 
me  to  go  to  the  springs.  I  accordingly  went  to  the  Lower 
Blue  Licks,  in  the  state  of  Kentucky.  This  place  was  at 
that  time  a  very  fashionable  resort,  and  was  numerously 
attended  during  that  season.  I  had  never  visited  such  a 
place  before,  and  I  was  shocked  to  witness  so  much  pro- 
fanity and  drunkenness.  I  had  not  been  there  long  be- 
fore I  wished  myself  home  again,  but  I  finally  concluded 
to  remain  a  few  days  and  test  the  medical  virtues  of  the 
Lick  water.  I  spent  much  of  my  time  in  retirement, 
reading,  meditation,  and  prayer.  When  in  the  parlor  I 
was  often  solicited  to  engage  in  playing  cards,  or  some 
other  sinful  amusement,  and  when  I  refused  to  engage  in 
any  of  them,  I  soon  perceived  that  my  company  was  no 
longer  desirable. 

At  length  the  Sabbath  dawned  upon  us,  and  a  most 
beautiful  day  it  was.  0  how  I  longed  for  communion 
with  the  people  of  God !  I  had  never  before  witnessed 
such  a  total  disregard  of  the  holy  Sabbath  day.  The 
weather  was  now  oppressively  warm,  and  groups  of  card- 
players  might  be  seen  under  every  green  tree  in  the  front 
yard.  My  soul  was  pained  within  me ;  I  could  not  en- 
dure the  sight.  I  retired  to  an  "upper  room"  to  read 
my  Bible,  and  to  hold  communion  with  my  Savior.  This 
was  soon  observed  by  some  who  had  ascertained  that  I 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  It 
was  not  long  till  I  became  the  "song  of  the  drunkard." 
About  nine  o'clock  some  young  men  of  the  "baser  sort," 
assembled  under  the  shade  of  a  locust-tree  to  make  sport 


94  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AX    ITINERANT. 

of  the  religion  of  Christ.  They  sang  songs  and  exhorted; 
laughed,  and  responded  "Amen,"  "Lord  grant  it/'  etc. 
They  wound  up  their  profane  exercises  by  holding  a  mock 
class  meeting,  in  which  they  related  their  experience 
with  the  same  tone  of  voice  and  peculiar  manner  of  some 
of  my  old  acquaintances  at  M.  One  of  them  would  occa- 
sionally shout  and  clap  his  hands,  and  the  others  would 
audibly  respond  "Amen!''  While  they  were  occupying 
the  "seat  of  the  scorner,"  I  took  out  my  "diary"  and 
recorded  the  transaction,  with  the  names  of  the  principal 
actors ;  first,  that  it  might  be  more  deeply  engraven  on 
my  own  mind;  and,  secondly,  to  see  if  such  wicked  con- 
duct would  not  be  followed  by  the  judgments  of  a  justly- 
offended  God.  In  this  I  was  not  mistaken.  The  principal 
performer,  Captain  B.,  committed  suicide  at  the  Pearl- 
Street  Hotel,  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  about  two  weeks 
afterward.  Mr.  W.,  who  was  the  son  of  a  distinguished 
gentleman,  once  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  died  sud- 
denly in  the  streets  of  the  city  of  M.  in  about  three 
months  from  the  time  he  was  making  sport  of  the  Meth- 
odists in  a  mock  meeting  at  the  springs.  Another,  when 
last  heard  from,  was  fiddling  in  drunken  saloons  for  the 
amusement  of  bystanders.  I  doubt  not  he  has  long  since 
died  as  the  fool  dieth,  and  filled  a  drunkard's  grave. 

After  my  return  home  time  passed  slowly  away.  I  was 
disqualified  in  mind  and  body  for  any  business  whatever, 
because  my  heart  was  no  longer  in  it.  I  visited  the  city 
of  Cincinnati,  and  intended  to  stay  several  weeks,  but 
was  so  discontented  in  mind  I  only  remained  a  short 
time.  On  my  return  trip  on  board  the  steamboat,  I  met 
with  Doctor  V.,  who  taught  me  the  first  rudiments  of  the 
English  language  when  a  child.  The  meeting  was  mu- 
tually agreeable.  We  talked  of  the  past,  and  of  our 
prospects  for  the  future.  He  was  now  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  iron  on  the  waters  of  Ohio  Brush  creek. 


SCENES     AT    A    WATERING-PLACE.  95 

Little  did  I  think  at  that  time  I  should  ever  be  at  the 
eauie  place  assisting  him  in  his  business.  Surely  the 
"ways  of  G-od  are  past  finding  out.''  "We  parted  at  R.. 
and,  in  company  with  some  friends,  I  concluded  to  take  a 
pleasure-trip  up  the  Ohio  as  far  as  Pittsburg  and  Browns- 
ville, hoping  it  would  bring  some  relief  to  my  troubled 
spirit.  The  first  few  days  of  our  voyage  was  delightful ; 
but  at  Marietta  we  learned  the  painful  intelligence  that 
the  cholera  was  prevailing  at  several  places  above  on  the 
river.  This  news  spread  alarm  and  dismay  among  the 
passengers.  Our  pleasure  was  all  at  an  end.  "  Fears 
were  on  every  side,"  and  the  stoutest  hearts  were  afraid 
as  our  boat  came  near  to  the  several  landings  on  our  up- 
ward journey.  On  our  arrival  at  Wheeling  we  found  the 
disease  spreading  all  over  the  city,  the  deaths  averaging 
about  fourteen  or  fifteen  each  day.  Xone  of  the  passen- 
gers were  willing  to  go  ashore,  although  a  number  of 
them  had  intended  to  land  there,  and  take  the  stage- 
coach for  Baltimore.  All  were  filled  with  consternation 
and  dismay,  and  concluded  to  remain  on  board  the  boat 
till  they  reached  the  city  of  Pittsburg.  I  shall  never  for- 
get that  day.  I  did  not  feel  afraid  to  die,  yet  I  wept  like 
a  child  to  think  that  I  should  likely  die  among  strangers 
before  my  return.  The  sorrows  of  my  heart  were  greatly 
augmented  by  the  reflection  that,  like  Jonah,  I  was  fleeing 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 

Our  boat  left  the  landing  a  little  before  the  sun  went 
down.  I  spent  a  night  of  sleeplessness  and  indescribable 
misery.  I  felt  the  hand  of  the  Lord  resting  upon  me.  I 
knew  I  deserved  his  chastisements  for  running  away  from 
my  duty  so  long.  I  could  neither  eat  nor  sleep.  "The 
spirit  of  a  man  may  sustain  his  infirmity,  but  a  wounded 
spirit,  who  can  bear?" 

The  next  day,  as  we  approached  the  town  of  Steuben- 
ville,  I  went  to  the  captain  of  the  boat  and  told  him  that 


96  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

he  must  put  me  ashore.  He  was  astonished,  and  remon 
strated  with  me  against  pursuing  such  a  dangerous  course. 
The  citizens  of  this  place  were  unwilling  that  the  boa! 
should  land,  for  fear  of  conveying  the  plague  from  "Wheel- 
ing. I  went  ashore  in  the  yawl.  It  was  a  lovely  day  in 
the  early  part  of  June.  I  remained  there  till  the  next 
Monday.  On  Sabbath  I  went  to  class  meeting  and 
preaching,  but  felt  as  though  God  had  "set  a  mark  upon 
me,"  as  one  who  was  ashamed  of  his  cross.  During  the 
Sabbath  I  prayed  much  and  read  the  word  of  God  at  the 
hotel.  On  Monday  I  journeyed  to  Cadiz  and  as  far  as 
Cambridge;  from  thence  to  Zanesville,  and  via  Lancaster 
to  the  city  of  Chillicothe.  Between  Lancaster  and  Chil- 
licothe  I  traveled  alone  in  the  coach  during  one  of  the 
most  terrific  thunder-storms  I  ever  witnessed.  With  the 
aid  of  the  gleaming  lightning  the  driver  kept  in  the 
read,  and  God  protected  me  from  any  harm.  At  Chilli- 
cothe I  found  that  I  had  but  little  strength  left,  but  I 
was  so  anxious  to  get  home  that  I  concluded  to  proceed. 
Between  Bainbridge  and  Sinking  Springs  I  became  very 
sick.  I  asked  the  driver  to  stop  and  put  me  out.  He 
remonstrated,  and  told  me  I  should  certainly  die  if  left 
there  among  such  people,  and  so  far  from  any  place  where 
medical  assistance  could  be  obtained.  I  concluded  to  go 
on,  but  was  no  longer  able  to  sit  up.  The  driver  removed 
the  middle  seat,  and  I  laid  down  in  the  coach  till  we  ar- 
rived at  the  Springs.  I  found  an  old  friend  living  there, 
and  tarried  with  him  during  the  night.  I  slept  but  little, 
and  the  next  day  proceeded  on  horseback  as  far  as  the 
"  crossings  of  Brush  creek,"  beyond  Jacktown.  Before  I 
reached  this  point  I  was  attacked  with  bilious  fever.  I 
went  into  the  house  of  Mr.  S.  and  asked  for  a  bed  on 
which  to  lie  down  and  die,  and  for  three  days  I  was  un- 
conscious of  all  that  passed  around  me.  I  there  promised 
God;  if  he  would  not  cut  me  off  in  the  morning  of  my 


SCENES     AT     A    WATERING-PLACE.  97 

days,  I  would  become  an  embassador  of  the  Gospel.  As 
soon  as  I  made  this  promise  my  fever  abated,  and  I  was 
soon  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  ride  on  horseback 
as  far  as  West  Union,  in  Adams  county,  Ohio. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  kindness  of  this  family  to  me 
in  the  time  of  need.  When  I  first  recovered  so  far  as  to 
be  able  to  recognize  any  one,  I  saw  the  mother  and  one 
of  her  daughters  sitting  in  my  room  all  bathed  in  tears. 
They  had  watched  day  and  night  around  my  bed,  and 
ministered  to  all  my  wants.  The  Lord  reward  them  with 
the  blessings  of  his  salvation  here,  and  in  the  world  to 
come  give  them  eternal  life! 

At  West  Union  I  went  to  class  meeting,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  exercises  I  asked  permission  to  tell  them  "all 
that  had  befallen  me  in  the  way/'  and  how  the  Lord  had 
met  me  and  laid  his  hand  of  affliction  upon  me  because 
of  my  unwillingness  to  go  and  preach  his  Gospel.  I  then 
told  them  with  tears  "I  could  hold  out  no  more;"  I  had 
promised  the  Lord  to  do  my  duty,  if  he  would  again 
restore  my  health,  and  return  me  in  safety  to  my  friends. 
While  I  was  speaking  some  wept,  and  others  shouted  for 
joy,  and  at  the  close  of  their  little  meeting  the  most  of 
them  came  up  and  shook  me  by  the  hand  and  told  me  to 
"be  of  good  cheer,"  and  go  on  my  way  rejoicing.  0  how 
their  words  refreshed  the  heart  of  the  stranger!  That 
night  I  rested  well,  and  the  next  day  my  appetite  was  as 
much  improved  as  my  spirits.  The  dark  clouds  were  all 
gone,  and  the  Sun  of  righteousness  arose  in  full-orbed 
glory  upon  my  soul. 

In  a  few  days  I  reached  home  in  safety,  but  almost 
wasted  to  a  skeleton.  I  had  been  absent  only  about  four 
weeks,  and  but  few  know,  even  to  this  hour,  any  thing 
about  the  journey  I  had  performed,  or  the  strange  deal- 
ings of  God  to  my  soul. 

9 


98  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

CHAPTER    XII. 

FIRST    RELIGIOUS    EXERCISES    IN    PUBLIC. 

The  cholera  was  now  spreading  all  over  the  country, 
and  many  were  dropping  suddenly  into  the  grave.  Many 
of  my  youthful  companions  and  class-mates  were  among 
the  number.  I  had  now  fully  made  up  my  mind  to  re- 
main at  R.,  but  the  Lord  overruled  my  designs  and  pur- 
poses in  an  unexpected  hour.  The  reader  will  recollect 
that  on  my  first  tour  for  health  on  the  river,  I  accident- 
ally met  with  my  old  schoolmaster,  a  very  excellent  phy- 
sician, who  had  retired  from  practice,  and  was  then  in  the 
iron  business  at  Ohio  Brush  creek.  About  this  time  I 
received  a  letter  from  him  inviting  me  to  accept  a  clerk- 
ship at  the  forge,  of  which  he  at  that  time  was  manager. 

This  seemed  to  me  a  strange  providence.  I  mentioned 
it  to  some  business  men  of  my  acquaintance  and  found 
that  it  met  their  cordial  approval.  After  communing 
with  my  parents  I  concluded  to  accept  the  offer;  but 
when  the  time  fixed  for  my  departure  arrived  I  was  un- 
willing to  go.  The  cholera  was  on  the  increase,  and  I 
dreaded  the  thought  of  being  separated  from  my  friends 
during  the  prevalence  of  the  epidemic.  My  parents 
did  not  wish  to  detain  me,  as  my  health  was  very  poor. 
My  sister  at  length  addressed  me  as  follows:  "My  dear 
brother,  do  not  shrink  from  doing  your  duty :  go,  and  the 
Lord  go  with  you.  He  has  promised  that  no  plague  shall 
come  nigh  our  dwelling;  and  should  you  be  called  to  die 
among  strangers,  remember  it  is  just  as  nigh  to  glory 
from  the  hills  of  Brush  creek  as  from  the  banks  of  the 
beautiful  Ohio.  When  separated  our  prayers  will  follow 
you."  The  next  morning  I  took  an  affectionate  leave  of 
my  aged  parents  and  only  sister,  and  started  for  my  new 


FIRST   RELIGIOUS   EXERCISES   IN   PUBLIC.    99 

home  in  the  county  of  Adams.  The  location  of  the  forge 
was  in  a  very  healthy  region  of  country.  I  was  kindly 
received  by  Doctor  V.,  and  taken  to  board  in  his  family. 
In  the  course  of  a  few  days  I  became  very  gloomy,  and,  in 
the  absence  of  the  Doctor,  I  started  home  as  far  as  the 
town  of  W.  Here  I  was  met  by  a  kind  friend,  who  per- 
suaded me  to  go  back  to  the  forge.  In  a  short  time  after 
this  I  went  back  and  engaged  in  business,  and  was  per- 
fectly happy.  All  my  inward  struggles  about  entering 
the  ministry  were  gone,  and  my  former  flow  of  spirits  had 
returned.  I  was  now  among  strangers  who  had  no  knowl- 
edge of  my  religious  history,  and  I  fondly  hoped  to  be 
permitted  to  serve  God  in  peace. 

The  first  Sabbath  after  my  arrival  at  the  iron  establish- 
ment I  attended  preaching  at  the  house  of  brother  S., 
and  was  much  surprised  to  find  that  that  appointment  was 
in  the  bounds  of  the  same  circuit  with  the  place  from 
which  I  had  just  removed.  When  I  went  in  Rev.  H.  T. 
was  engaged  in  preaching  from  these  words:  ""Why, 
then,  is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter  of  my  people 
recovered?"  Among  the  many  reasons  which  he  assigned 
[  can  only  remember  one  at  this  time.  "Many,"  said  he, 
"I  believe,  are  still  in  their  sins  because  some  of  those 
called  of  God  to  preach  his  Gospel  are  unwilling  to  do 
it."  And  then  to  my  utter  astonishment  went  on  to  re- 
mark, that  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  inform  the  congregation 
that  there  was  just  such  a  young  man  in  the  audience, 
who  had  lately  come  from  R.  to  reside  at  the  forge,  and 
then  closed  by  saying,  that  he  hoped  the  society  there 
would  give  me  no  "rest  for  the  soles  of  my  feet"  in  all 
that  region,  unless  I  would  consent  to  discharge  my  duty, 
and  warn  sinners  to  ufiee  from  the  wrath  to  come."  At 
first  I  felt  like  getting  up  at  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon 
to  resent  it,  but  before  I  had  the  opportunity  I  was  com- 
pletely subdued  and  melted  into  tears.     I  exclaimed:  aO 


10'J  VOOT-PAIITfi    -J  I    AN    IIINEP.ANT. 

my  God!  what  shall  I  ■:*:  I  60  where  I  will,  I  am  pur 
suri  by  the  Church  and  her  ministry.  It  would  be 
'better  fin  me  to  die  than  live!'  What  can  I  say  that 
would  profit  those  who  are  denominated  scoffers  about  the 
I  rgei  While  thus  communing  with  myself  brother  T 
concluded  his  sermon,  and  called  upon  me  to  exhort.  I 
was  "constrained  1;  i-;-id.  and  I  made  the 

effort,  and  Gk  3  |  :~rrfuily  blessed  my  own  soul  and  the 
congregation  also. 

On  1  m   that  meeting  I  made  up  my 

mind  to  exhort  on  all  proper  occasions,  and  to  try  and  do 
all  the  good  that  I  possibly  could  among  the  colliers  and 
forgemen.  n  J6f  :  whom  were  very  wicked  and  profligate. 
jrdinglyl  made  appointments  in  that  neighborhood 
every  Sabbath,  and  G-od  poured  his  Holy  Spirit  out  upon 
the  people,  and  many  were  soon  awakened  and  happily 
converted.  I  now  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  some  who  had  long  been  hardened  in  crime,  were 
tg  the  Savior.  I  was  soon  styled  by  the  colliers 
their  4 -young  preacher,'"  many  of  whom  were  ready  to 
fight  for  me  when  any  one  would  attempt  to  disturb  me  in 
the  discharge  of  my  duties.  It  was  not  long  before  I  be- 
gan to  discover  that  God  had  cast  my  lot  among  the  quiet 
hills  of  Brush  creek  for  -  _    :  i  object.    I  realized  the 

truth  of  the  declaration  of  the  proph^:.  ■■  0  Lord,  I  know 
that  the  way  of  man  is  not  in  himself;  it  is  not  in  man 
that  watt  .--  h  direct  hi*  ste]  -  '  Jer.  x.  23.  On  every 
side  I  found  "an  open  door"''  for  usefulness.  The  man 
with  whom  I  boarded  had  been  a  very  successful  phy- 
sician, and  still  kept  medicines  for  his  workmen.  During 
bsenee  I  would  visit  the  sick,  and  pray  with  them; 
often  in  the  night  I  ha-  .   _  — veral  miles  to  visit  sick 

persons  in  the  neighborhood.  My  health  soon  improved, 
and  my  religious  enjoyn:.:-  were  greatly  increased  also 
while  going  about  u.  doing  good." 


TIRST   RELIGIOUS   EXERCISES   IN   PUBLIC. 101 

The  winter  and  spring  passed  rapidly  away.  During 
the  summer  my  brethren  renewed  their  efforts  to  induce 
me  to  receive  license  to  preach,  but  without  success.  I 
thought  I  might  be  as  useful  to  remain  as  I  was.  I  ex- 
horted frequently,  and  held  meetings  as  often  as  my 
health  would  permit.  This  I  thought,  at  times,  was  all 
that  God  required;  but  my  mind,  however,  was  almost 
constantly  harassed  upon  the  subject  of  preaching. 
Often  when  walking  or  riding  along  the  highways  I 
have  been  caught  exhorting  or  preaching  aloud,  before 
I  was  aware  of  it.  Many  a  time  when  riding  in  the 
forest  alone,  or  over  the  hills  about  the  iron  works,  I 
have  dismounted  and  stood  upon  a  log  and  gave  vent  to 
the  emotions  of  my  soul  in  calling  sinners  to  repentance. 
This  the  reader  may  think  strange  conduct,  but  God's 
hand  was  upon  me  polishing  my  soul  for  usefulness  in 
after  life.  I  waxed  bolder  every  month,  and  instead  of 
shunning  the  cross  I  sought  out  opportunities  to  speak  to 
sinners  of  the  matchless  love  of  God.  I  began  to  wonder 
why  it  was  that  I  ever  had  been  unwilling  to  exhort  my 
fellow-men  to  "flee  the  wrath  to  come." 

The  last  quarterly  meeting  for  this  year  on  West  Union 
circuit  was  held  at  Hopewell  Chapel,  July  19,  1834.  The 
late  Rev.  John  Ferree  was  acting  as  presiding  elder.  At 
this  meeting  I  was  licensed  to  preach  by  mistake.  Of 
this  I  had  no  knowledge  till  more  than  two  weeks  after 
my  return  from  the  meeting.  At  the  close  of  the  quar- 
terly meeting  conference  the  presiding  elder  handed  me 
my  license  to  exhort,  as  I  supposed,  regularly  renewed  by 
the  order  of  the  quarterly  meeting  conference.  I  placed 
it  in  my  pocket-book  without  reading  it  over,  for  I  had  re- 
ceived several  of  the  same  kind  before.  About  two  weeks 
after  my  return  to  my  home  Dr.  V.  asked  me  how  I  was 
pleased  with  our  new  presiding  elder?  I  answered,  very 
well.     1  then  remarked  that  he  renewed  my  license  to 


102  FOOT- PR  I  NTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

exhort.  I  then  looked  in  my  pocket-book  for  the  docu- 
ment to  examine  his  autograph;  but  to  my  astonishment, 
instead  of  finding  my  license  "renewed  as  an  exhorter,"  1 
found  that  the  paper  read  precisely  as  follows : 

"The  license  of  Maxwell  P.  Gaddis  as  a  preacher  in 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  is  hereby  renewed. 

"Done  by  order  of  the  quarterly  meeting  conference 
for  West  Union  circuit,  held  at  Hopewell  meeting-house, 
July  19,  1834.  John  Ferree,  P.  E." 

I  soon  discovered  that  a  wrong  blank  had  been  filled 
up  for  me,  either  by  the  elder  or  secretary  of  the  con- 
ference. Brother  Ferree  afterward  assured  me  that  he 
knew  nothing  of  this  matter  till  I  told  him,  but  when  he 
handed  me  the  license  supposed  it  was  all  right.  For  a 
time  Doctor  V.  made  himself  merry  over  it,  and  told  me 
I  was  now  a  preacher,  and  must  preach  for  them  the  next 
Sabbath  at  the  forge.  At  length  the  conversation  as- 
sumed a  more  serious  turn,  and  he  remarked  to  me  as 
follows :  "Now,  after  all,  Mr.  Gaddis,  there  may  be  a  good 
providence  in  this  singular  affair!  Your  friends  have 
been  urging  you  for  a  long  time  to  receive  license  to 
preach,  and  you  would  not  consent.  Xow  I  would  advise 
you  to  preach  at  your  appointment  on  the  hill  next  Sab- 
bath, and  if  any  one  calls  in  question  your  authority  for 
so  doing,  tell  them  the  presiding  elder  gave  you  license  at 
the  last  quarterly  meeting."  I  replied,  "I  will,  and  then 
I  will  be  better  able  to  decide  whether  it  is  my  duty  to 
enter  the  ministry." 

This  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  week.  I  prayed  much 
by  day  and  night,  but  did  not  fully  conclude  what  to  do 
till  early  on  Sabbath  morning.  As  I  rode  along  to  my 
appointment  I  said,  "The  Lord  being  my  helper,  I  will 
try."  The  house  was  full,  and  many  were  sitting  and 
standing   outside   near   the    doors  and  windows.     After 


CONVERSION    OF    A    YOUNG    LADY.  103 

singing  and  prayer  I  arose  and  announced  for  my  first 
text  the  following  beautiful  words:  "Come  thou  with  us 
and  we  will  do  thee  good,  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  good 
concerning  Israel."  While  I  was  speaking  the  Holy 
Ghost  fell  upon  the  congregation,  many  shouted  aloud  for 
joy,  and  sinners  who  were  standing  outside  of  the  house 
wept  like  little  children.  I  was  made  strong  by  the  Spirit 
to  speak  the  word  without  much  embarrassment,  to  my 
great  surprise.  The  ice  was  now  broken,  and  the  news 
spread  abroad  that  Mr.  G.,  after  refusing  so  long  to 
preach,  had  at  last  begun  the  work. 

I  preached  on  the  following  Sabbath,  and  also  the  next, 
in  another  part  of  the  country.  I  had  thus  unwittingly 
committed  myself,  and  whenever  I  thought  of  ceasing  to 
preach,  these  words  would  ring  in  my  ears:  "No  man 
having  put  his  hand  to  the  plow  and  looking  back,  is  fit 
for  the  kingdom  of  God."  I  was  now  urged  to  make  ap- 
pointments far  and  near,  but  I  confined  my  feeble  labors 
to  the  regions  most  contiguous  to  the  forge. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

REMARKABLE    CONVERSION    OF    A   YOUNG 
LADY. 

The  following  Sabbath  I  attended  the  funeral  of 
Miss  S.  TV.,  in  the  town  of  "W.  The  sermon  was 
_preached  by  Rev.  John  Meek,  from  these  words  :  "  Com- 
fort ye,  comfort  ye  my  people,  saith  your  God."  Isaiah 
xl,  1.  He  first  briefly  described  the  people  of  God,  and 
then  spoke  of  the  periods  in  which  they  needed  comfort, 
and  also  the  means  employed  to  comfort  them.  The  text 
and  the  sermon  were  both  appropriate  for  the  occasion, 


104  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

as  the  reader  will  learn  from  the  subsequent  narration. 
I  was  well  acquainted  with  the  life  and  character  of  the 
deceased.  She  was  the  daughter  of  an  aged  widow,  and 
the  only  child  she  had  with  her  to  administer  consolation 
in  her  declining  years.  The  daughter  was  greatly  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  her.  Her  death,  and  the  melan- 
choly circumstances  which  surrounded  her  at  the  close 
of  her  earthly  career,  had  called  together  a  vast  concourse 
of  people.  I  will  here  narrate  her  painful  history.  About 
twelve  months  previous  to  her  death  she  attended  a  Meth- 
odist camp  meeting.  Before  the  close  of  the  meeting, 
she,  with  many  of  her  youthful  companions,  was  brought 
to  the  foot  of  the  cross  as  an  earnest  seeker  of  religion.  I 
was  an  eye-witness  to  the  deep  struggles  of  her  heart. 
It  was  a  long  and  sore  conflict,  but  at  last  she  was  blessed 
with  the  evidence  of  her  adoption  into  the  family  of 
Grod.  I  never  saw  any  one  more  perfectly  happy,  and 
she  continued  in  this  tranquil  and  joyful  state  for  more 
than  one  hour,  when,  on  a  sudden,  she  was  strongly 
tempted  to  doubt  the  change  which  had  been  wrought  in 
her  heart.  The  sequel  is  painfully  instructive.  She 
began  to  reason  with  the  adversary,  and  thoughtlessly,  in 
an  unguarded  moment,  "cast  away  her  confidence."  I 
then  heard  her  exclaim,  in  a  mournful  tone  of  voice,  "  0, 
why  did  I  let  my  Sayior  go?"  The  ministers  were 
called  into  the  tent  to  comfort  her.  We  all  tried  to 
soothe  the  anguish  of  her  wounded  spirit,  but  noth- 
ing that  was  said  seemed  to  cheer  her  sorrow-stricken 
soul.  The  meeting  closed,  and  still  she  was  tempted  to 
believe  that  she  should  never  again  recover  her  "  hope  in 
Christ."  Every  effort  was  made,  after  her  return  home, 
to  convince  her  that  by  faith  in  Christ  she  might  again 
be  made  to  rejoice  as  before;  but  it  was  all  in  vain. 
She  soon  lost  all  relish  for  society,  and  gradually  settled 
down  into  a  cheerless  state  of  melancholy  and   starless 


CONVERSION    OF    A    YOUNG    LADY.  105 

gloom.  This  was  followed  by  a  long  night  of  dark  de- 
spair, without  one  ray  of  hope.  I  often  visited  her,  but 
she  refused  all  spiritual  comfort,  often  saying  that  there 
was  not  one  promise  in  the  Bible  that  would  meet  her 
peculiar  case.  "  How  can  X"  she  would  frequently  say, 
'•after  having  been  converted,  and  then  so  soon  to  be- 
lieve the  tempter  instead  of  God,  ever  expect  any  thing 
else  but  the  displeasure  of  my  Maker?  I  have  no  one 
to  blame  but  myself.     0,  yes,  I  know  it  is  all  right,  and 

'  If  my  soul  is  sent  to  hell, 
His  righteous  law  approves  it  well.'  " 

Her  health  rapidly  declined,  and  it  was  apparent  to  her 
friends  that  her  time  was  short.  Her  case  excited  much 
interest  and  sympathy  among  all  her  acquaintances.  She 
had,  it  may  be,  committed  "the  sin  unto  death  "  of  the 
body,  and  gradually  sunk  into  the  tomb.  But,  thanks 
and  honor  be  unto  Him  that  was  once  dead,  but  now 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for  the  guilty!  a  short 
time  before  the  hour  of  dissolution,  the  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness broke  in  upon  her  dark  and  bewildered  soul,  like 
the  natural  sun  after  a  dark  and  gloomy  night.  He  who 
is  styled  M  mighty  to  save/'  plucked  her  out  of  the  jaws  of 
the  enemy,  pressed  her  to  his  bleeding  heart,  and  bade 
ber  weep  no  more.  Her  last  moments  were  full  of  hope 
and  gladness,  ecstatic  joy  beamed  from  her  angelic  coun- 
tenance, and  she  went  down  into  the  "dark  valley"  with 
the  voice  of  thanksgivings  and  loud  halleluiahs. 

"  Touched  by  the  cross,  we  live  or  more  than  die ; 
That  touch  with  charm  celestial  heals  the  soul 
Diseased,  drives  pain  from  guilt,  lights  life  in  death, 
Turns  earth  to  heaven,  to  heavenly  forms  transforms 
The  ghastly  ruins  of  the  moldering  grave." 

At  one  of  my  appointments,  the  third  or  fourth  Sab- 
bath after  I  commenced  preaching,  the  Lord,  in  answer 
to  my  prayer,  sent  an  arrow  of  conviction  to  the  heart  of 


106  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  all  that  neighborhood 
I  was  speaking  from  these  words:  "The  whole  have  no 
need  of  a  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick."  Before  1 
closed  my  remarks,  he  trembled  and  cried  out,  with  an 
audible  voice,  for  God  to  have  mercy  upon  his  soul.  I 
knew  not  what  to  do ;  I  was  not  authorized  to  take  him 
into  the  Church,  but,  blessed  be  God !  he  soon  afterward 
found  peace  in  believing. 

I  was  now  very  happy  all  the  time.  I  never  attempted 
to  make  a  public  effort  without  receiving  a  rich  baptism  to 
refresh  my  weary  spirit.  My  life  was  one  of  great  peace 
when  alone.  The  Lord  had  delivered  me  out  of  "great 
and  sore  troubles/'  0,  yes,  "  he  brought  me  through 
fire  and  water  into  a  wealthy  place."  At  this  time,  I 
find  the  following  record  in  my  brief  "  diary,"  which  I 
resolved  to  keep,  although  oppressed  with  my  business 
engagements: 

Brush  Creek  Forge,  September  3,  1834. — This  morning 
I  have  commenced  reading  the  Bible  through  in  regular 
order.  I  hope  to  have  grace  to  enable  me  to  continue. 
0  that  God  would  "open  my  eyes  to  behold  wondrous 
things  out  of  his  law !"  The  past  summer  has  been  a 
trying  one  on  my  weak  constitution,  but,  thanks  be  to 
God !  my  health  is  better  at  the  present  time.  Surely, 
the  Lord  has  been  very  good  in  lengthening  out  my  days. 
0,  I  feel  that  I  am  the  most  unworthy. 

"  0,  who  hath  tasted  of  thy  clemency, 
In  larger  measure  more  oft  than  I? 
Which  way  so  e'er  I  turn  my  face  or  feet, 
I  taste  thy  goodness,  and  thy  glory  meet." 

October  20. — "  To-day  I  have  been  tempted  as  to  the 
true  character  of  my  motives ;  but,  upon  strict  examina- 
tion, I  can  truly  say  I  desire  above  all  things  to  promote 
the  glory  of  God  and  save  my  own  soul."  We  had  a 
good  prayer  meeting  last  night,   and    several    penitents 


CONVERSION    OF    A    YOUNG    LADY.  107 

came  forward  for  prayers.     0  that  each  one  of  them  may 
soon  find  the  pearl  of  great  price  ! 

October  22. — Kecently  I  have  had  some  sore  trials, 
but  the  Lord  has  been  my  helper  in  time  of  need. 
Though  all  of  these  trials  have  been  unexpected,  his 
grace  has  been  sufficient.  I  enjoyed  some  precious 
seasons  in  secret  devotions  last  week.  My  health  is  im- 
proving, and  I  hope  soon  to  be  able  to  serve  God  and  his 
Church  to  better  purpose.  0,  may  I  ever  be  teachable, 
and  do  all  the  good  I  can !     Bought  Wesley's  Sermons. 

October  25. — intended  quarterly  meeting,  at  brother 
W.'s,  on  Brush  Creek  circuit.  I  took  an  active  part  in 
all  the  meetings,  and  labored  beyond  my  strength;  but, 
thanks  be  to  God !  I  now  feel  happy,  in  the  reflection  that 
I  tried  to  discharge  my  duty.  I  wish  to  live  and  die  in 
the  service  of  God,  with  my  armor  on. 

February  18,  1835. — Since  I  last  wrote  in  my  diary, 
I  have  passed  through  a  variety  of  sore  afflictions,  both 
of  body  and  mind;  but  the  Lord  has  preserved  me  in 
safety  to  this  hour. 

On  the  14th  instant,  at  West  Union,  I  was  licensed  * 
hy  the  approbation  of  the  quarterly  meeting  conference, 
as  a  local  preacher.      I  will  here  make  a  record  of  my 
license,  which  reads  as  follows: 

"  Maxwell  P.  Gaddis  is  hereby  licensed  as  a  local 
preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  so  long  as 
his  spirit  and  practice  shall  accord  with  the  doctrines 
and  discipline  of  said  Church.  West  Union  circuit. 
Cincinnati  district,  Ohio  annual  conference. 

"  Signed,  Leroy  Swormstedt,  P.  E. 

"February  14,  1835." 

I  feel  sensible  of  my  weakness,  and  much  like  shrink- 
ing from  the  cross.  God  grant  that  I  may  yet  be  a 
workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed!  "Lord  help 
me I"     Amen. 


108  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

HAPPY  DEATH  OF  MY  FATHER. 

After  I  was  regularly  licensed  as  a  local  preacher  1 
was  perfectly  satisfied,  and  resolved  to  live  with  a  single 
eye  to  the  glory  of  God.  I  thought  I  would  still  attend 
to  my  secular  pursuits,  and  preach  on  the  Sabbath ;  but  1 
would  never  yield  to  the  importunities  of  my  friends  to 
join  the  itinerancy — 

"Not  a  wave  of  trouble  rolled 
Across  my  peaceful  breast." 

JBut  new  and  sore  troubles  were  in  store  for  me.  It  was 
not  long  after  I  obtained  license  as  a  local  preacher  that  I 
received  intelligence  that  my  father  was  dangerously  ill. 
His  disease  was  dropsy,  which  at  times  assumed  a  very 
threatening  aspect.  I  immediately  made  arrangements 
to  pay  him  a  visit.  I  found  him  very  low;  but  his  mind 
unusually  clear  and  peaceful.  During  all  his  sickness  he 
was  favored  with  a  cloudless  sky.  He  loved  to  converse 
upon  the  subject  of  religion  with  all  who  visited  him 
during  his  last  illness.  The  fullness  of  the  atonement, 
and  the  privilege  of  the  believer  to  know  his  sins  for- 
given, to  have  even  the  "full  assurance  of  faith,''  were 
the  themes  especially  upon  which  he  loved  to  dwell.  His 
memory,  always  good,  seemed  to  be  unusually  strong  and 
retentive  during  the  last  few  months  of  his  earthly  pil- 
grimage. The  day  before  his  dissolution  he  conversed 
freely,  and  my  mother  remarked  that  she  was  much  sur- 
prised to  hear  him  narrate  many  of  the  most  important 
events  in  his  early  history  with  great  precision  and  accu- 
racy. This  visit  to  my  aged  parent  was  sanctified  to  my 
good.  His  advice  and  exhortations  will  never  be  forgot- 
ten.    I  was  obliged  to  return  before  his  death.     This  has 


HAPPY  DEATH  OF  MY  FATHER.      109 

always  been  a  source  of  deep  regret.  I  was  not  permitted 
to  see  him  die.  The  night  before  my  departure  he  sum- 
moned all  his  children  around  his  dying  bed.  I  was  re- 
quested to  lead  the  devotions.  He  remarked  as  follows : 
aMaxwell;  my  dear  son,  read  for  me  the  eleventh  chapter 
of  Hebrews,  which  commences,  'Now  faith  is  the  sub- 
stance of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not 
seen/  etc.  This  chapter  has  always  been  food  for  my 
poor  soul."     We  then  joined  in  singing : 

"  My  span  of  life  will  soon  be  done, 
The  passing  moments  say, 
As  lengthening  shadows  o'er  the  mead 
Proclaim  the  close  of  day." 

I  then  tried  to  pray  as  well  as  I  could  under  such  af- 
flicting circumstances.  When  we  arose  from  our  knees, 
father  pronounced  upon  all  the  children  who  were  present 
his  "  dying  blessing,"  beginning  with  the  eldest.  Being 
the  youngest  child,  I  was  called  last  to  kneel  at  the  side 
of  his  bed  to  receive  his  dying  blessing,  which  was  pro- 
nounced upon  me  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  with  his  right  hand  resting  upon  my  head. 
He  then  addressed  me  in  the  following  manner:  "Max- 
well, my  son,  I  am  glad  that  you  have  at  last  consented 
to  enter  the  ministry.  I  have  only  to  say  to  you  on  that 
subject,  do  not  essay  to  go  out  to  war  with  the  enemies 
of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  l  armor  of  Saul/  or  with  weapons 
that  you  have  not  'proved/  but,  like  the  stripling  David, 
take  your  sling  and  staff  in  your  hand  and  go  to  the 
brook,  and  select  smooth  stones  and  put  them  in  a  shep- 
herd's bag,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  G-od  of  the  armies 
of  Israel,  go  out  to  'glorious  warfare/  I  believe  the  Lord 
of  hosts  has  called  you  to  this  work.  My  dying  prayers 
shall  follow  you,  and  I  believe  you  will  have  great  success." 
Early  the  next  morning  I  bid  him  a  final  farewell. 
When  I  saw  him  the  next  time  his  venerable  form  was 


110  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

folded  in  the  habiliments  of  death.  On  the  seventh  day 
of  April  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  He  had  suffered  much 
during  his  illness,  which  was  of  four  months  duration. 
When  his  skin  in  places  was  broken  by  the  dropsy,  he 
would  often  repeat  many  of  the  sayings  of  the  afflicted 
man  of  Uz,  such  as,  "Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust 
in  him,"  and,  "Though  after  my  skin  worms  destroy  this 
bod}^,  yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God,  whom  I  shall  see 
for  myself,  and  mine  eyes  shall  behold,  though  my  veins 
be  consumed  within  me."  Satan  was  not  permitted  to 
tempt  him  during  all  his  affliction.  He  was  calm  and 
peaceful,  and  at  times  full  of  praises.  No  doubts  or  fears 
disturbed  his  mind  by  day  or  night.  He  waited  with  ex- 
emplary patience  "all  the  days  of  his  appointed  time." 
The  night  before  his  death  he  appeared  considerably  bet- 
ter than  he  had  been  for  some  time,  his  mind  unusually 
clear,  and  memory  remarkably  retentive.  He  sat  up  and 
conversed  with  a  Christian  friend  till  a  very  late  hour, 
talking  over  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  and  the  goodness 
of  God  manifested  toward  him  at  different  periods.  At 
length  my  dear  mother  interposed  and  requested  him  to 
lie  down.  He  slept  sweetly  the  remainder  of  the  night, 
and  when  breakfast  was  called  arose  and  took  his  seat  at 
the  table.  He  was  very  cheerful,  and,  after  drinking  a 
part  of  a  cup  of  coffee,  requested  to  be  assisted  to  bed. 
He  soon  became  dangerously  ill,  and  suffered  much  till 
one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  at  which  time  he  was  heard  to  say: 
"Come,  Lord  Jesus,  and  come  quickly!"  In  a  moment 
the  severe  paroxysms  all  subsided,  and  he  was  very  soon 
free  from  anguish  or  pain.  Addressing  his  kind  phy- 
sician, Doctor  Campbell,  he  said:  "When  you  come  to 
where  I  am  now,  Doctor,  you  will  find  that  you  have  no 
grace  to  spare.  Yet,  blessed  be  God !  I  have  sufficient  for 
the  time  of  need.  I  know  if  you  could  prolong  my  life, 
you  would  gladly  do  it;  but  you  need  not  do  any  thing 


HAPPY  DEATH  OP  MY  FATHER.      Ill 

more.  'The  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand/  "  Before 
the  sun  went  down  he  was  able  to  get  up  again  and  sit  in 
his  arm-chair  before  the  fire.  To  my  mother  he  said: 
"Well,  my  dear,  that  was  the  hardest  day's  work  I  have 
ever  done.  But,  blessed  be  G-od !  the  roughest  of  the 
journey  is  behind  me.  I  will  soon  be  home!"  At  this 
moment  an  old  acquaintance  came  in  to  see  him,  and 
took  him  by  the  hand  and  kindly  inquired  if  he  knew 
him?  To  which  he  replied,  "0  yes!  I  know  you  very 
well,"  and  called  him  by  name.  At  the  suggestion  of 
a  minister  present,  this  same  friend  then  asked  him 
if  he  "knew  Jesus  Christ?"  At  the  mention  of  the 
name  of  his  Savior  his  countenance  beamed  with  un- 
earthly brightness,  and  he  looked  up  and  smiled,  and, 
with  a  clear,  distinct  voice,  replied:  "0  yes!  I  know 
him  very  well,  indeed!  I  am  Jesus  Christ's  free 
man!  He  hath  bought  me  tcith  his  blood!  Is  he  your 
friend  also,  Mr.  S.  ?"  These  were  his  last  words  and 
dying  testimony.  He  then  beckoned  my  mother  to  lay 
him  down  again.  He  adjusted  the  clothes,  folded  his 
hands  across  his  bosom,  closed  his  eyes  and  fell  asleep, 
without  even  a  quivering  of  the  muscles  of  his  face.  It 
was  some  time  before  my  mother  could  satisfy  herself 
that  his  spirit  had  departed  to  the  realms  of  bright  glory. 
For  twenty-eight  years  he  had  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Ohio.  He  was  regular  in 
his  attendance  on  the  means  of  grace.  When  bowed 
under  the  weight  of  threescore  and  ten  years,  with  his 
staff  in  his  hand,  he  found  his  way  to  the  sanctuary. 
The  weather  was  seldom  too  stormy,  or  the  night  too 
dark,  to  deter  him  from  the  place  of  prayer.  He  was 
a  great  lover  of  class  meetings,  and  took  delight  in 
dwelling  on  what  he  termed  the  "sure  foundation ;"  the 
atoning  blood  of  Christ;  also  a  "free  and  full  salvation" 
He  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  faith    and   the  Holy 


112  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

Ghost.  How  peaceful  his  exit!  "As  a  hireling  he  had 
accomplished  his  day;"  but  he  has  performed  his  part 
•well.  The  laborer  is  called  home !  He  was  weary  and 
faint  with  the  last  stage  of  his  journey.  But  the  de- 
sired goal  is  reached  at  last.  He  looks  back  and  ex- 
claims: "The  roughest  of  the  journey  is  all  behind  me 
now!"  The  "last  beam  is  shining;"  the  shadows  of 
night  approach;  he  reclines  his  weary  head  upon  the 
pillow  to  sleep,  and  falls  imperceptibly  into 

"A  calm  and  undisturbed  repose!" 

Such,  dear  reader,  was  the  death  of  my  father.  Is  it 
any  wonder  that  one  of  old  exclaimed:  "Let  me  die  the 
death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  unto 
his?" 

How  calm,  how  gentle,  how  serene 

Death's  shadows  gather  o'er  him ! 
An  angel  host,  with  silver  sheen, 

To  heavenly  regions  bore  him ! 

The  unexpected  death  of  my  father  made  a  lasting  im- 
pression upon  my  mind.  I  resolved  to  be  more  holy,  and 
spend  all  the  time  that  I  could  possibly  spare  from  my 
business  in  trying  to  win  souls  to  Christ.  I  generally 
preached  every  Sabbath  with  increasing  comfort  to  myself, 
and  more  acceptability  to  the  people.  I  was  urged  by  all 
the  ministers  of  my  acquaintance  to  become  an  itinerant 
minister.  This  request  was  now  met  by  the  objection,  that 
the  Doctor  with  whom  I  resided  would  not  spare  my  serv- 
ices from  the  forge.  I  was  strongly  attached  to  Mr.  V., 
and  felt  it  my  duty  to  remain  there  for  some  time  to 
come.  But  how  mysterious  are  the  ways  of  God !  The 
Doctor  concluded  to  go  to  Cincinnati  on  business,  and 
his  wife  and  children  went  to  stay  with  Mr.  Means,  his 
father-in-law,  during  his  absence.  He  reached  the  city 
in  safety,  but  shortly  after  his  arrival  he  was  attacked 
with  cholera,  and  died  the  next  day  at  the  Cincinnati 


HAPPY  DEATH  OP  MY  FATHER.      113 

Hotel,  on  Front-street.  His  wife,  on  hearing  the  news, 
was  unwilling  to  return  home,  but  remained  at  her 
father's  residence  till  her  property  was  removed  or  sold. 
I  was  left  in  charge  of  the  house  to  protect  their  goods, 
till  the  time  appointed  for  the  sale  of  such  things  as  the 
widow  did  not  desire.  Nothing  but  strong  faith  in  God 
enabled  me  to  endure  this  trial.  And  to  add  to  my  afflic- 
tions the  cholera  broke  out  at  West  Union,  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  forge.  A  few  extracts  from  my  diary  will 
throw  some  light  upon  the  dealings  of  God  with  my  soul 
at  this  critical  period  : 

May  1,  1835. — It  is  very  sickly  at  present  in  this 
neighborhood,  but  through  the  mercy  of  God  my  health 
is  better  than  when  I  was  licensed  to  preach.  On  last 
Sabbath  Rev.  John  Meek  came  to  my  appointment  at 
brother  W/s  residence.  I  urged  him  to  preach,  but  he 
declined.  Up  to  this  time  I  had  never  preached  before 
a  traveling  minister.  The  cross  was  very  heavy,  but  the 
Lord  was  better  to  me  than  my  fears.  Many  are  dying 
suddenly.     0  may  I  be  fully  resigned  to  the  will  of  God! 

June  30,  1835. — I  felt  very  unwell  last  night,  but  I 
am  nearly  well  to-day.  The  work  of  death  goes  steadily 
forward  in  the  town  of  West  Union.  Praise  the  Lord 
that  my  life  is  still  spared !  0  how  weak  is  my  faith ! 
Lord,  increase  the  work  of  holiness  in  my  poor  heart! 
Lord,  if  thou  wilt  spare  the  life  of  thy  servant  from  the 
dreadful  scourge,  I  will  endeavor  to  be  more  faithful.  I 
will  trust  in  the  Lord  though  he  slay  me. 

July  5,  1835. — Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  for  the 
privileges  of  another  Sabbath !  I  preached  at  10  A.  M. 
from  Proverbs  iii,  6.  I  felt  well  while  trying  to  discharge 
my  duty,  and  many  others  seemed  refreshed  in  spirit  also. 
With  much  trembling  I  concluded  for  the  first  time  to 
open  the  doors  of  the  Church  to  receive  members  on  trial. 
I  thank  God  he  gave  me  one  soul,  a  young  lady,  who 
10 


114  FOOT-PR  I  NTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

seemed  to  be  deeply  convicted.  0  that  before  1  die  [ 
may  see  hundreds  converted  to  God  by  my  labors!  The 
cholera  is  still  prevailing  around  us.  3Iany  of  my  breth- 
ren and  sisters  have  died  during  the  past  week.  Among 
those  who  have  fallen  at  West  Union  is  my  dear  friend 
Rodgers,  a  son-in-law  of  Rev.  Greenbury  R.  Jones.  0 
that  we  may  all  be  in  readiness  when  the  messenger 
comes  to  our  habitations!  "Tirne  is  short."  0  what  a 
fleeting,  inconstant  world !  It  is  now  nearly  two  years 
since  I  came  here  to  reside.  How  many  unexpected 
changes  have  transpired  since  then;  how  many  full  of 
joy  and  hope  have  gone  suddenly  to  the  silent  tomb ! 
Upon  a  review  of  the  past  two  years  I  believe  that  I  have 
spent  them  more  profitably  than  any  part  of  my  earthly 
existence.  But  what  have  I  done  after  all?  Nothing! 
nothing!  I  am  a  poor,  ''unprofitable  servant."  Lord,  par- 
don my  negligence,  quicken  thou  my  soul,  and  wake  me 
up  for  time  to  come  ! 

July  10,  1835. — Quite  unwell  this  evening,  and  a 
little  depressed  in  spirits;  but,  thank  God!  I  have  peace 
of  mind  through  Jesus  Christ.  I  am  a  wonder  to  myself. 
"Lord,  make  me  to  know  my  end,  the  measure  of  my  days; 
how  frail  I  am."  I  am  poor  and  needy,  but  0  Lord  ] 
hope  in  thy  mercy.  But  my  love  is  "too  cold,  and  nrji 
faith  too  weak."  How  slow  I  march  in  the  heavenly  road ! 
Alas!  how  easily  I  am  turned  aside  by  the  temptations 
of  Satan ! 

"  0  for  a  closer  -walk  with  God, 
A  calm  and  heavenly  frame  !" 

I  desire  a  lively  sense  of  his  presence  every  hour — the 
evidence  that  I  please  God,  and  stand  "accepted  in  the 
beloved."  If  I  ever  needed  the  sustaining  grace  of  God, 
it  is  at  this  very  hour;  pestilence,  disease,  and  death  all 
around  me;  men's  hearts  failing  them  from  fear  of  the 
judgments  of  God  upon   this   guilty  land!     I  am   here 


REMARKABLE    PREMONITION.  115 

alone,  far  from  home  and  former  friends,  but  I  can  say. 
"the  Lord  reigneth,  let  the  earth  rejoice."  I  will  say  of 
the  Lord,  "he  is  my  refuge,"  To  him  I  will  fly  for  safety 
till  the  "indignation  be  overpast." 

July  15,  1835. — Preached  this  morning  at  Saterfield's 
meeting-house,  on  the  road  leading  from  the  forge  to 
West  Union.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon  I  again  opened 
the  doors  of  the  Church  for  the  admission  of  members, 
and  admitted  three  young  persons  on  trial.  0  that  each 
of  them  may  be  useful  members  of  the  Church,  and  good 
soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ !  The  cholera  still  prevails  at 
West  Union;  it  lays  hold  on  the  intemperate  especially. 
0  Lord  spare  thy  people  !  May  none  of  us  ever  forsake 
thee !  By  Divine  assistance  I  am  resolved  to  suffer  all 
the  will  of  God.  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  forget 
not  all  his  benefits,  who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities, 
and  healeth  all  thy  diseases  ! 


CHAPTER  XV. 

REMARKABLE    PREMONITION. 

For  many  years  the  society  worshiping  at  brother 
Smith's,  about  two  miles  above  the  forge,  had  labored 
under  serious  embarrassment  for  the  want  of  a  suitable 
house  of  worship.  Many  efforts  had  been  made  to  erect 
a  meeting-house,  but  none  of  them  hitherto  had  suc- 
ceeded. I  was  induced  to  open  a  subscription  for  this 
purpose,  and  after  getting  all  in  the  neighborhood  to  sub- 
scribe, it  only  amounted  to  the  sum  of  ninety  dollars.  I 
met  the-  society  and  made  my  report.  After  I  was  done 
making  my  statement,  one  of  the  trustees  arose,  and  re- 
marked that  he  had  previously  told  me  that  it  was  useless 


116  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

to  make  the  effort;  and  then  said  he  hoped  the  peace  of 
the  little  society  would  not  soon  be  disturbed  again  by 
agitating  the  subject  of  church-building,  till  it  was  en- 
abled to  build  without  difficulty.  I  then  arose  and  re- 
plied as  follows  :  "  If  you  wait  till  you  can  build  '  without 
difficulty/  you  will  never  have  a  church  in  this  region  of 
country.  I  can  assure  you,  brother,  that  the  difficulty 
spoken  of  is  not  in  the  want  of  ability,  but  of  a  willing- 
ness for  each  to  do  his  part  of  the  work."  I  then  stated 
that  if  any  of  the  farmers  would  make  us  a  donation  ot  a 
suitable  lot,  I  would  guarantee  to  build  them  a  good 
house  in  less  than  twelve  months  from  that  day,  with  the 
subscription  list  of  ninety  dollars  in  cash.  This  declara- 
tion produced  great  laughter,  and  all  of  the  brethren 
supposed  that  it  was  spoken  in  a  jest.  I  then  assured 
them  I  was  in  earnest,  and  if  any  one  had  liberality 
enough  to  meet  my  proposition,  let  him  speak  out.  A 
good  brother  B.  arose  and  donated  a  lot,  near  an  excel- 
lent stone  quarry.  We  secured  a  deed  and  employed 
some  hands  to  quarry  a  sufficient  quantity  of  stones,  and 
then  gave  a  public  invitation  to  the  farmers,  on  a  day 
named  for  that  purpose,  to  come  on  with  their  wagons 
and  haul  the  stone  to  the  place  marked  out  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  meeting-house.  Every  perch  of  it  was  hauled 
at  the  appointed  time.  Sand  and  lime  were  procured  in 
the  same  way.  It  was  not  long  till  the  edifice  was  in- 
closed, and  was  ready  for  preaching  by  the  next  summer. 
I  record  this  for  the  purpose  of  showing  what  can  be 
done  when  the  "people  have  a  mind  to  work."  A  good 
house  of  worship  might  be  erected  by  the  farmers  in 
many  of  our  destitute  settlements  in  the  west,  if  minis- 
ters would  take  hold  of  this  matter  in  good  earnest. 

Near  the  close  of  the  conference  year  on  West  Union 
circuit,  I  was  requested  to  fill  an  appointment,  in  the 
vicinity  of   the  forge,  for  brother  C,  who  was  confined 


REMARKABLE    PREMONITION.  117 

at  home  by  a  sudden  illness.  It  was  during  a  very  busy 
season,  and  I  bad  a  short  notice,  and  but  little  time  to 
make  suitable  preparation.  I  selected  a  text,  and,  as  I 
rode  along  to  the  appointment,  tried  to  study  it  as  well 
as  I  could.  As  I  drew  near  the  church,  my  mind  be- 
came very  dark,  and  every  point  of  the  discourse  vanished 
from  me.  I  tried  to  revive  the  train  of  thought,  but  it 
had  disappeared  like  the  early  dew.  When  I  arrived  at 
the  place  for  preaching,  I  discovered  a  large  crowd  of  un- 
converted persons  standing  outside  of  the  church.  I 
then  felt  satisfied  I  had  made  a  wrong  selection,  but  was 
at  a  loss  to  know  what  to  do.  I  could  not  think  of  an- 
other text  in  the  Bible  from  which  I  could  preach,  without 
time  for  preparation.  The  hour  of  preaching  had  now 
arrived,  and  I  could  not  retreat.  I  went  in  and  gave  out 
a  hymn,  and,  while  engaged  in  prayer,  the  dark  cloud 
passed  over,  and  I  immediately  felt  as  though  I  would  be 
willing  to  preach  from  any  portion  of  the  word  of  God 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  might  suggest  to  my  mind.  "While 
the  congregation  was  singing  the  second  hymn,  I  opened 
the  Bible  and  prayed  fervently  that  God  would  direct  me 
to  some  suitable  text  for  the  occasion.  On  opening  the 
Bible,  the  first  passage  that  attracted  my  eye  was  the 
following:  "Set  thy  house  in  order,  for  thou  shalt  die 
and  not  live/'  (Isaiah.)  The  Spirit  of  God  instantly  im- 
pressed my  mind  to  make  this  passage  the  foundation  of 
my  discourse.  Without  any  preparation,  I  announced 
the  text,  and  spoke  on  the  certainty  of  death  and  the 
necessity  of  immediate  preparation.  The  Holy  Spirit 
laid  bountifully  to  my  hand,  and  I  spoke  the  word  with 
great  boldness.  Many  seemed  cut  to  the  heart  and  wept 
bitterly  When  the  congregation  was  dismissed,  an  un- 
usual solemnity  prevailed;  all  departed  in  silence.  Or: 
my  way  home  I  meditated  on  the  singular  occurrence, 
and  often  wondered  why  it  was  that  the  Spirit  forbade 


118  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

my  preaching  from  the  text  previously  selected.  This 
mystery  was  soon  explained.  I  learned  that  on  the  way 
home  from  the  church  of  God,  an  unconverted  man,  by 
the  name  of  Mr.  M.,  remarked  to  his  wife  as  follows: 
"  My  dear,  I  believe  I  shall  die  soon ;  the  message  of  the 
minister  to-day  was  designed  for  me.  I  believe  God  sent 
him  to  warn  me.  When  the  text  was  announced  it  fell 
upon  my  ear  like  the  knell  of  death ;  it  sunk  down  into 
my  soul  like  lead.  I  have  received  the  sentence  of  death 
in  my  body.  I  am  certain  I  shall  die  soon,  and  I  am  de- 
termined to  go  about  the  work  of  l setting  my  house  in 
order.'  "  She  at  first  tried  to  cheer  him  up,  but  found 
her  efforts  fruitless.  The  words  of  the  text  sounded  in 
his  ears  by  night  and  by  day,  "Thou  shalt  die  and  not 
live."  He  soon  became  a  weeping  penitent,  and,  in 
about  one  week,  was  soundly  converted  to  God.  Shortly 
afterward  he  was  taken  violently  ill.  He  told  his  fam- 
ily, in  the  early  part  of  his  affliction,  that  his  hour  had 
now  come.  He  arranged  his  temporal  affairs,  "set  his 
house  in  order,"  and  died  a  most  peaceful  death.  Dur- 
ing his  sickness  he  sent  for  his  friends  and  neighbors, 
and  told  them  the  singular  manner  in  which  God  had 
awakened  him,  and  exhorted  them  all  to  seek  the  Savior. 
He  also,  a  short  time  before  he  died,  requested  his  family 
to  send  for  me  to  preach  his  funeral  sermon,  and  also  re- 
late this  singular  providence  to  all  who  might  attend. 
The  first  Sabbath  after  his  death  I  complied  with  his 
dying  request,  to  one  of  the  largest  congregations  ever 
collected  in  that  settlement.  I  preached  his  funeral  ser- 
mon from  the  words  so  singularly  taken  from  me  at  the 
church  on  the  day  of  his  awakening,  with  much  freedom 
and  enlargement  of  soul.  "He  will  give  grace  and 
glory,  and  no  good  thing  will  he  withhold  from  them  that 
walk  uprightly."  This  circumstance  and  the  religious 
interest,  wakened  up  by  his  unexpected  dissolution,   was 


REMARKABLE    PREMONITION.  119 

sanctified  to  the  good  of  many  a  poor  wanderer  from  the 
"  Shepherd  of  souls."  Many  resolved  to  seek  the  Lord 
and  "set  their  house  in  order."  0,  that  was  a  day  I 
shall  never  forget  while  I  sojourn  in  this  vale  of  tears ! 

I  will  now  relate  the  melancholy  death  of  a  young  man 
who  had  hut  recently  united  in  marriage  to  a  young  lady, 
the  daughter  of  one  of  the  partners  in  the  iron  works. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  they  had  only  been  married 
about  three  months.  They  had  settled  on  the  bank  of 
the  creek,  a  short  distance  from  the  forge.  Early  one 
morning  he  joined  a  fishing  party,  and  assisted  in  draw- 
ing a  net,  till  about  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when 
he  was  suddenly  drowned.  I  received  the  news  at  the 
ofiice  before  he  was  recovered  from  the  water.  I  hast- 
ened to  the  spot,  and  assisted  in  trying  to  restore  him  to 
life;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  vital  spark  had  fled, 
never  to  return.  At  the  time  he  sunk  to  rise  no  more 
till  brought  up  a  lifeless  corpse,  Kev.  James  T.  Holliday 
was  swimming  close  by  his  side.  They  immediately  com- 
menced diving  after  him,  but  could  not  find  him  till  it 
was  too  late.  Twenty  minutes  before  the  fatal  accident 
occurred  he  had  gone  up  to  his  house,  and  inquired  how 
his  wife  was  getting  along  during  his  absence.  It  was 
their  last  meeting  in  this  world.  We  sent  up  for  Miss 
F.,  a  sister  of  his  wife,  and  communicated  the  news  to 
her  first.  When  she  came  down  to  the  creek,  she  tore 
the  hair  from  her  head  in  bitter  anguish,  and  threw  her- 
self on  the  ground,  and  exclaimed,  in  agony,  "  0,  God, 
who  will  bear  the  intelligence  to  my  sister,  that  her  be- 
loved Samuel  sleeps  in  death  V 

That  painful  task  was  finally  assigned  to  myself.  On 
my  way  to  the  house  I  prayed  God  to  give  me  strength  to 
discharge  the  painful  duty.  It  was  some  time  after  I 
went  in  before  I  could  utter  a  single  word.  At  last,  after 
trying  to  prepare  her  mind  the  best  way  that  I  could,  i 


120  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

told  her  the  sorrowful  news.  She  fainted  and  sunk  to 
the  floor,  but  soon  revived,  and  commenced  praying  to 
God  to  have  mercy  upon  her  soul.  "  0,"  said  she,  "  I 
have  been  afraid  for  some  time  past  that  something  would 
happen  to  us.  Mr.  S.  and  I  often  talked  about  it.  "We 
were  so  happy  in  the  society  of  each  other  that  we  forgot 
God  our  Maker!  0,  it  is  just,  I  know  it  is !  Now,  Mr. 
G.,  I  want  you  to  pray  for  me;  I  believe  I  shall  die  also; 
and  if  I  die  in  my  present  condition  I  shall  be  lost  for- 
ever." 0, 1  shall  never  forget  that  death  scene.  I  spent 
the  greater  part  of  that  night  in  praying  and  trying  to 
console  that  disconsolate  widow.  I  tried  to  improve  the 
occasion  at  the  funeral,  for  the  benefit  of  the  living,  and 
have  hope  that  it  was  sanctified  to  the  good  of  many 
souls.  More  than  a  hundred  times  did  that  widow 
promise  to  give  her  heart  to  God  and  join  his  Church,  if 
her  life  should  be  spared.  But,  alas !  alas !  how  the 
"sorrow  of  the  world  worketh  death !"  I  have  never 
heard  of  her  becoming  a  child  of  God.  Many  of  her 
relatives  did  become  truly  devoted  to  the  cause  of  relig- 
ion, and  some  of  them  have  since  died  and  gone  to  glory. 
The  death  of  this  young  man  was  made  a  blessing  to  my 
own  soul.  I  resolved  to  warn  the  wicked  more  faithfully 
than  I  had  ever  done  before,  and  I  had  the  happiness  of 
seeing  some  of  his  associates  in  sin  converted  to  God. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

MY     FIRST     CIRCUIT 


In  the  fall  of  the  year  I  found  that  I  had  settled  up 
the  most  important  part  of  the  business  of  the  firm  of 
John  Means  &  Co.  The  presiding  elder  wished  me  to  go 
and  fill  a  vacancy  on  an  adjoining  circuit,  but  1  declined 


MY    FIRST     CIRCUIT.  121 

the  offer,  for  fear  I  might  be  induced  to  join  the  confer- 
ence. At  the  last  quarterly  meeting  I  was  solicited  to 
receive  a  recommendation  to  the  annual  conference,  to  be 
held  in  Springfield  in  the  fall  of  1835.  but  I  would  not 
accept  it.  My  friends  seemed  to  be  at  a  loss  to  know 
what  to  do  farther.  However,  Rev.  John  A.  Baughman, 
then  preacher  in  charge,  told  the  stewards  if  they  would 
give  their  consent,  he  could  get  me  as  a  "supply,"  if 
he  could  be  returned  another  year  without  a  colleague. 
They  authorized  him  to  make  any  arrangement  for  them 
he  thought  best  at  the  session  of  conference.  He  was 
accordingly  returned  as  he  desired  with  "one  to  be  sup- 
plied." He  had  informed  the  "powers  that  be"  of  the 
plan  he  had  devised  to  engage  my  services  as  an  "itin- 
erant preacher."  I  suppose  they  all  said,  "  It  is  v:ell.}> 
But  they  were  disappointed  very  soon.  At  the  close  of 
the  conference  I  received  notice  that  brother  Baughman 
was  returned  to  our  circuit  without  an  assistant,  and  that 
I  was  to  travel  with  him  the  current  year  as  the  junior 
preacher.  Up  to  this  time  I  had  no  knowledge  of  any 
movement  of  the  kind.  My  emotions  and  mental  suffer- 
ings may  be  better  imagined  than  described  with  accu- 
racy. I  knew  not  what  to  do.  I  pleaded  want  of  health 
as  well  as  inexperience,  without  convincing  any  body  of 
the  propriety  of  the  course  I  resolved  to  pursue.  I  finally 
returned  a  negative  answer  to  the  communication. 

This  was  a  source  of  much  trouble  to  my  kind-hearted 
brother  B.,  who  had  promised  the  stewards  there  would 
be  no  uncertainty  about  my  accepting  the  appointment. 
It  was  difficult  to  obtain  a  single  man  who  was  adapted  to 
the  work.  The  presiding  elder  at  length  succeeded  in 
obtaining  a  young  man  to  supply  my  place  on  the  circuit. 
As  soon  as  he  came  round  to  where  I  resided  he  called  to 
see  me,  and  pleaded  with  me,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  to  re- 
lieve him  and  go  on  the  circuit,  as  I  had  been  expected 
11 


122  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

to  do  by  all  my  friends.  But  still  I  would  not  yield.  The 
weather  was  now  getting  very  cold,  and  stern  winter  came 
upon  us  suddenly.  This  afforded  me  ample  time  for  re- 
flection and  prayer.  About  this  time  I  was  told  they 
were  praying  at  almost  every  point  on  the  circuit  for  God 
to  have  pity  on  the  young  man  who  had  so  long  refused 
to  listen  to  the  call  of  the  Church  to  preach  the  Gospel. 
I  was  also  informed  that  at  times  they  would  pray  for  the 
Lord  to  cause  me  to  discharge  my  duty,  or  remove  me 
speedily  out  of  the  way  of  others.  At  the  next  round 
the  young  man  appointed  as  a  temporary  supply  told  me 
that  he  would  leave  the  circuit  at  the  first  quarterly  meet- 
ing. He  then  left  me  and  begged  of  me  not  to  resist  the 
call  any  longer.  I  prayed  much  by  night  and  by  day.  I 
knew  not  what  to  do.  My  health  was  poor,  and  my  kind 
physician,  Doctor  H.,  tried  to  prevail  on  me  not  to  go. 
He  finally  told  me  that  he  did  not  believe  I  would  stand 
such  exposure  six  months.  But  I  could  hold  out  no 
longer.  I  saw  no  way  of  escape.  I  concluded  to  go,  not 
doubting  but  that  God  had  opened  the  door.  I  wrote  to 
the  presiding  elder  to  release  brother  W.  and  I  would  im- 
mediately take  his  place.  He  cordially  complied  with  my 
request,  and  communicated  it  to  the  board  of  stewards. 
I  closed  up  the  business  with  which  I  was  intrusted  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  "gave  an  account  of  my  steward- 
ship" to  my  employers,  and  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  De- 
cember, 1835,  I  bade  farewell  to  the  forge  and  all  its 
"  noise  and  confusion,"  and  started  for  Ripley,  on  the 
Ohio  river.  On  my  arrival  at  Ripley  I  found  out  to  my 
sorrow  that  I  was  expected  to  commence  my  labors  there 
the  following  Sabbath.  The  interview  with  my  dear 
mother,  before  I  commenced  my  itinerant  toils,  was 
deeply  affecting.  Up  to  this  time  she  had  never  heard 
my  voice  in  the  pulpit.  I  knew,  if  her  health  would 
justify,  that  she  would  be  present  on  Sabbath  morning 


MY    FIRST     CIRCUIT.  123 

f  feared  her  presence  would  only  add  to  my  embarrass- 
ment. I  attended  prayer  meeting  on  Friday  evening,  and 
was  requested  to  lead  the  exercises.  Before  the  meeting 
closed  I  felt  my  heart  growing  very  hard,  and  I  secretly 
wished  that  I  had  never  consented  to  become  a  "travel- 
ing" preacher.  I  brought  the  praying  exercises  to  a 
speedy  termination,  and  left  the  Church  without  much 
ceremony,  to  the  surprise  of  my  old  friends.  I  went 
home  with  my  brother  David.  He  said  that  he  was  sorry 
that  I  closed  the  exercises  so  abruptly.  I  told  him,  "I 
acted  just  as  I  felt.  I  am  sorry  that  I  have  consented 
to  become  a  traveling  minister.  The  Church  has  been 
urging  me  for  years  to  the  work.  I  knew  that  I  was  not 
qualified.  I  am  now  here  as  your  circuit  preacher,  and  I 
fear  I  shall  not  only  disgrace  the  Church,  but  all  my  rela- 
tions by  my  pulpit  effort  on  next  Sabbath,  should  I  try  to 
preach/'  My  heart  was  all  broken  up,  and  I  wept  like  a 
child.  I  could  not  even  attend  to  family  prayers  for  my 
brother.  They  all  seemed  to  sympathize  with  me,  and  no 
doubt  prayed  also.  My  brother  tried  to  encourage  me  in 
every  way  that  he  could  to  dismiss  my  groundless  fears, 
and  trust  in  a  faithful  God.  At  length  I  retired  to  bed; 
but  sleep  had  departed  from  my  eyelids.  I  could  find  no 
rest  for  my  troubled  soul.  The  enemy  cast  his  fiery  darts 
at  me  nearly  all  night.  0  how  often  I  wished  that  I  had 
not  yielded  to  become  an  itinerant  minister!  Before  day- 
light I  fell  into  a  profound  slumber,  and  had  the  following 
strange  dream: 

In  company  with  several  others  I  joined  a  fishing-party. 
On  our  arrival  at  the  creek  or  small  river,  I  found  the 
arrangements  different  from  any  I  had  ever  seen  before. 
A  dam  was  thrown  across  the  stream,  with  a  gate  in  the 
middle,  which  was  hoisted  up  to  let  the  fish  pass  into  the 
net  below.  There  was  also  a  division  of  labor  among  the 
fishermen.     Some  were  to  stand  at  the  gate,  others  around 


124  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  net  to  guard  the  fish,  and  some  to  drive  them  into  the 
net  through  this  wicket-gate.  Driving  them  down  the 
stream  to  the  net  was  the  hardest  part  of  the  work,  and 
required  more  skill  to  accomplish  it.  Lots  were  cast  who 
should  go,  and  the  lot  fell  upon  me.  I  started  up  the 
stream  and  found  the  bank  lined  with  stones  of  unequal 
sizes,  weighing  from  one  to  five  pounds  each.  I  tried  a 
few  of  the  larger  ones,  but  had  no  success.  I  then  re- 
solved to  throw  the  smaller  ones.  I  felt  rather  awkward 
at  first.  It  did  really  appear  to  me  that  I  had  no  sleight 
of  hand  in  throwing,  and  I  could  not  possibly  do  any 
good;  but,  to  my  agreeable  surprise,  it  was  not  long 
before  "the  waters  were  troubled,"  and  I  could  see  a 
multitude  of  fishes  running  in  the  direction  of  the  net. 
I  was  sure  of  victory  and  great  success,  when  on  a  sudden 
a  large  serpent,  with  open  jaws,  appeared  in  the  water 
before  me  and  threatened  my  destruction.  I  instantly 
became  alarmed,  and  dropping  the  stones,  ran  up  the 
hill  as  fast  as  I  could.  I  fancied  at  every  step  I  could 
feel  the  venomous  reptile  close  at  my  heels.  When  I 
reached  the  summit,  entirely  exhausted,  I  turned  about 
and  looked  back,  and  lo !  the  enemy  was  still  at  the 
same  place  where  it  first  appeared.  I  was  ashamed  of 
my  conduct,  and  knew  that  unless  I  speedily  returned  my 
companions  would  upbraid  me  with  cowardice.  I  soon 
retraced  my  steps  again  down  the  hill  to  the  edge  of  the 
water,  and  picked  up  the  same  missiles  that  I  had  thrown 
down.  It  seemed  that  my  arm  was  nerved  with  greater 
power,  and,  on  the  second  or  third  effort,  I  struck  the 
serpent  a  fatal  blow  in  the  mouth,  and  it  disappeared 
from  my  sight  in  a  moment.  I  shouted  for  joy,  and  was 
aroused  from  my  slumbers.  I  was  very  happy.  I  felt  the 
hand  of  God  upon  me.  My  fears  were  all  gone,  like  the 
mists  before  the  rising  sun.  God  be  praised  for  help  in 
time  of  need !     The  power  of  the  adversary  was  broken, 


MY    FIRST    CIRCUIT.  125 

and  my  soul  set  free.  "In  a  dream,  in  a  vision  of  the 
night,  when  deep  sleep  falleth  upon  men,  in  slumberings 
upon  the  bed,  then  he  openeth  the  ears  of  men,  and 
sealeth  their  instruction. "     Job  xxxiii,  15. 

The  next  day  I  had  a  private  interview  with  my  dear 
mother.  I  shall  never  forget  the  words  of  love  and  ten- 
derness with  which  she  spoke.  She  reminded  me  of  her 
tears  and  prayers,  and  the  early  consecration  that  she 
made,  of  me  to  God.  At  one  time  she  said  that  she  had 
little  hope  of  living  to  see  me  preaching  the  Gospel;  but 
God  had  mercifully  preserved  her  in  answer  to  prayer. 
"I  know  God  has  heard  my  prayers  in  your  behalf,  and 
called  you  to  this  work.  I  want  you  to  be  a  'good  soldier 
of  Jesus  Christ.'  Go  on  your  way  rejoicing,  for  I  believe 
God  will  make  you  useful  wherever  you  may  be  sent !  I 
will  now  enter  into  a  covenant  with  you,  and  again  pledge 
my  daily  prayers  for  God  to  give  you  great  success  in 
'winning  souls.'  In  the  morning  at  eleven  o'clock,  and 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  night,  or  when- 
ever I  have  reason  to  believe  you  are  in  your  pulpit 
preaching,  I  will  retire  to  my  closet  and  spend  that  hour 
alone  with  God,  pleading  for  a  blessing  upon  your  labors. 
I  have  no  higher  ambition  than  to  see  you  a  successful 
embassador;  and  when  we  meet  in  glory,  0  may  you  have 
many  'stars  in  the  crown  of  your  rejoicing!'  " 

Thank  God  for  a  good  mother !  I  went  to  my  work  the 
next  day  with  a  different  class  of  feelings  from  what  I 
had  anticipated  the  evening  before.  The  presence  of  my 
dear  mother  in  the  congregation  on  Sabbath,  instead  of 
a  hinderance  or  cause  of  increased  embarrassment,  was 
rather  inspiring  to  my  timid  soul.  I  well  knew  there  was 
one  heart  in  that  assembly  that  beat  in  unison  with  my 
own,  and  one  that  prayed  fervently  for  my  success.  Be- 
fore I  closed,  her  countenance  beamed  with  "fullness  of 
joy;"  and  I  have  often  heard  her  remark,  that  it  was 


126  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

with  great  difficulty  that  she  kept  from  shouting  aloud 
the  praises  of  a  crucified  Redeemer!  When  far  separ- 
ated from  her,  I  often  sensibly  felt  the  influence  of  her 
prayers;  and  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to  record  here,  that  1 
owe  much  of  my  past  success  in  saving  souls  to  her  impor- 
tunate prayers  in  her  closet  while  I  was  trying  to  preach. 
The  remembrance  of  the  covenant  she  made  with  me 
staid  up  my  feeble  hands,  as  Aaron  and  Hur  did  the  hands 
of  Moses,  till  the  shout  of  victory  went  up  from  Israel's 
host.  0  at  such  times  I  had  unusual  liberty  of  speech, 
and  power  with  God,  and  success  in  "persuading  men!" 


CHAPTER  XYII. 

EXHORTATION  BEFORE  SERMON. 

At  my  second  appointment  on  the  circuit,  four  miles 
from  R.,  I  felt  much  embarrassed.  It  was  here  that  my 
parents  worshiped  God  first,  after  they  removed  to  Ohio. 
For  upward  of  twenty-two  years,  the  Methodist  society  in 
this  neighborhood  had  held  meetings  in  the  house  of 
brother  Fitch.  But,  within  a  few  years  past,  they  had 
erected  a  good  chapel  in  the  grove,  on  the  bank  of  Eagle 
creek,  a  short  distance  above  the  residence  of  brother 
Fitch.  Every  face  in  the  congregation  was  familiar. 
Here  I  had  spent  the  days  of  my  boyhood,  and  first  heard 
the  Gospel  proclaimed.  It  was  a  great  relief,  however, 
to  know  I  stood  up  in  the  midst  of  those  who  loved  me 
most,  and  would  willingly  bear  with  all  my  infirmities. 
The  Lord  was  my  helper,  and  his  word  was  glorified.  At 
one  of  my  appointments,  at  another  place,  the  glory  of 
God  filled  the  house  during  the  first  prayer.  I  arose,  and 
the   congregation   commenced  singing,  sinners  cried  for 


EXHORTATION    BEFORE    SERMON.  127 

mercy,  and  saints  shouted  aloud  for  joy.  I  then  deliv- 
ered an  exhortation,  and  afterward  read  my  text,  and 
tried  to  preach.  An  old  minister,  who  had  been  standing 
outside  of  the  house,  came  in  and  closed  the  meeting. 
On  our  way  home,  he  said,  "Brother  G.,  you  have  re- 
versed the  old  order  of  things,  I  perceive. "  I  asked 
him  what  he  intended  by  such  a  remark.  He  then  be- 
gan to  laugh  right  heartily,  and  gave  me  to  understand 
that  he  came  while  I  was  praying,  and  feared,  if  he 
should  come  in,  I  might  not  do  as  the  Spirit  would  direct. 
He  said  he  would  greatly  prefer  an  exhortation  before 
the  sermon  than  none  at  all.  And  then  he  said,  a  minis- 
ter who  should  say  he  could  neither  exhort  before  nor 
after  a  sermon,  he  feared  had  mistaken  his  calling,  and 
had  better  return  to  his  former  business  or  profession.  I 
am  now  inclined  to  think  he  was  not  mistaken. 

At  the  second  quarterly  meeting  in  this  same  neighbor- 
hood, an  event  occurred  worthy  of  record.  The  wife  of 
one  of  our  class-leaders  had  died  on  Friday,  in  the  full 
triumphs  of  the  faith  of  the  Gospel.  She  was  interred 
in  the  old  graveyard  contiguous  to  the  church,  about  an 
hour  before  the  service  commenced  on  Saturday.  The 
congregation  were  all  at  the  burial,  and  came  into  the 
church  about  the  same  time.  An  unusual  solemnity  pre- 
vailed. A  deep  conviction  of  the  shortness  of  human 
life,  and  the  vanity  of  all  things  earthly,  seemed  to  fill 
the  hearts  of  all  in  that  assembly.  During  the  opening 
exercises,  sighs  and  sobs  were  heard  all  over  the  house. 
Brother  T.  arose  and  read  for  his  text  the  following 
beautiful  words  of  St.  John:  "We  know  that  we  have 
passed  from  death  unto  life,"  but  was  not  permitted  to 
proceed  farther.  The  house  was  filled  as  with  the  rush- 
ing of  a  mighty  wind  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  He  resumed 
his  seat,  and  invited  the  congregation  to  sing.  The  en- 
tire audience,  believers  and  unbelievers,  were  melted  into 


128  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

tears.  "While  we  continued  to  sing,  the  heavens  opened, 
and  by  faith  Ave  could  see 

"  The  saints  above,  how  great  their  joys, 
How  bright  their  glories  be." 

The  redeemed  and  blood-washed  spirit  of  our  departed 
sister,  unperceived  by  mortal  eye,  seemed  to  hover  over 
us.  At  the  close  of  the  second  hymn,  some  of  the  min- 
isters present  urged  brother  T.  to  proceed.  He  arose 
and  remarked  in  an  audible  voice,  I  feel  we  ought  now 
"to  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  God/'  "Be  still, 
and  know  that  I  am  God."  He  then  resumed  his  seat, 
and  the  excitement  increased  in  all  parts  of  the  house; 
some  wept  aloud  and  others  shouted  for  joy.  All  felt 
that  "  the  Lord  was  in  his  holy  temple."  He  was  again 
urged  to  proceed,  or  the  state  of  feeling  would  be  beyond 
control.  He  at  length  consented,  and  had  not  spoken 
more  than  five  minutes  before  he  became  so  deeply  af- 
fected himself  that  he  was  compelled  to  sit  down.  The 
place  was  morally  shaken  by  the  mighty  power  of  God. 
At  this  awful  moment,  an  indiscreet  brother,  who  had 
"zeal"  but  not  "according  to  knowledge,"  arose  and  re- 
marked, with  an  air  of  exultation,  "Satan  may  as  well 
quit  the  field,  for  the  victory  is  ours  without  fighting  one 
battle." 

A  long  pause  ensued,  and  the  tender  emotions  in 
the  congregation  gradually  subsided.  An  old  veteran 
of  the  cross,  Rev.  G.  R.  Jones,  of  blessed  memory,  per. 
ceived  the  last  remark  had  grieved  the  Spirit  of  God, 
and  knowing  the  strategy  of  the  wily  foe,  arose  in  the 
altar,  and  remarked,  with  prophetic  spirit,  "Brother, 
boast  not  of  victory,  but 

1  Stand  to  your  arms ; 

The  foe  is  nigh, 
The  powers  of  hell  surround.' 


EXHORTATION    BEFORE     SERMON.  129 

[  am  much  mistaken  if  the  devil  does  not  give  us  a 
hard  chase  yet  at  this  meeting."  This  prediction  was 
fully  realized.  Brother  T.  at  length  proceeded  to  preach 
with  difficulty,  and  the  service  closed  without  any  one 
uniting  with  the  Church.  That  very  night  the  enemy 
succeeded  in  throwing  our  little  army  into  confusion,  and 
the  meeting  toward  the  close  was  dull,  and  unproductive 
of  good.  The  services  of  the  Sabbath  all  passed  away 
without  any  awakenings  or  conversions,  or  even  an  ac- 
cession to  the  Church.  I  learned  a  lesson  at  that  meet- 
ing which  I  never  lost  sight  of  during  my  "  itinerant  ca- 
reer." In  all  my  revival  meetings,  I  have  let  God  work 
by  the  means  of  his  own  selection,  or  in  whatever  way 
the  Spirit  would  direct  me  from  time  to  time;  not  con- 
fining myself  to  "old  or  new  measures." 

At  an  appointment,  in  the  vicinity  of  M.,  I  preached 
from  these  words  with  considerable  liberty:  "In  meek- 
ness instructing  those  that  oppose  themselves,  if  God, 
peradventure,  may  give  them  repentance  to  the  acknowl- 
edging of  the  truth ;  and  that  they  may  recover  them- 
selves out  of  the  snare  of  the  devil,  who  are  led  captive 
by  him  at  his  will."  2  Timothy  ii,  25,  26.  At  the  close 
of  my  remarks,  I  felt  impressed  that  I  ought  to  open  the 
doors  of  the  Church,  but  was  deterred  by  the  "fear  of 
man,  which  bringeth  a  snare."  A  few  days  after  this  I 
learned  that  a  lady  and  gentleman  in  the  congregation 
had  made  up  their  minds  to  join  the  Church,  and  went 
home  much  disappointed.  They  told  a  member  of  the 
Church,  that  they  thought  I  must  be  a  "  very  hard- 
hearted preacher."  This  occurrence  made  a  deep  im- 
pression on  my  mind,  and  I  resolved  to  wipe  out  that 
reproach  before  I  died.  It  has  been  my  custom,  gen- 
erally, ever  since,  to  open  the  doors  of  the  Church  at  the 
close  of  each  public  service.  "  Who  knoweth  the  mind 
of    the    Spirit?     Lord,    it   is    done   as   thou   hast   com- 


130  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

manded."  At  one  of  niy  week-day  appointments,  I 
preached  in  a  private  house.  The  family  were  all  very 
kind  and  obliging.  It  was  a  quiet  place  for  the  toil-worn 
minister.  The  wife  was  a  pious  member  of  our  Church, 
and  one  of  the  daughters  also.  The  father  of  the  family 
was  a  very  moral  man,  but  did  not  make  a  profession  of 
religion.  During  the  year  I  often  felt  that  I  ought  to 
talk  to  Mr.  G.  about  his  soul,  but  my  courage  failed  me 
whenever  I  made  the  attempt.  The  last  time  I  preached 
in  his  house  he  appeared  much  concerned  about  obtain- 
ing an  interest  in  Christ,  yet  I  was  afraid  to  talk  with 
him  privately.  I  prepared  to  start,  and  said  "finally, 
farewell,"  and  exhorted  the  wife  and  daughter  to  "be  of 
good  comfort.,,  They  both  wept  bitterly,  and  craved  an 
interest  in  my  prayers.  A  short  time  after  I  left  them, 
while  wrapped  in  a  profound  sleep,  "I  saw  in  a  vision 
upon  my  bed,"  that  I  died  suddenly,  and  met  sister  G.  at 
the  bar  of  God.  Our  recognition  was  mutual.  As  soon 
as  she  approached  me,  she  burst  into  tears,  and  "  lifted  up 
her  voice  and  wept."  I  immediately  inquired  the  cause 
of  her  deep  anguish.  She  instantly  replied,  "  0,  brother 
Gaddis,  what  a  sinful  part  you  have  acted  toward  my 
husband !  You  often  held  converse  with  him  upon  the 
subject  of  politics,  and  commercial  transactions,  and 
farming.  Now,  on  all  these  subjects  he  was  well  in- 
formed, but  still  destitute  of  the  'one  thing  needful* 
and  ignorant  of  the  way  to  secure  it.  You  had  all  this 
knowledge,  and  it  was  your  duty  to  instruct  him  when 
you  had  such  favorable  opportunities,  but  you  neglected  to 
do  it;  and  now  he  is  lost  through  your  unfaithfulness." 
I  awoke  weeping,  and  was  glad  that  it  was  "a  dream." 
But  0,  I  felt  that  God  had  sent  it  for  good,  and  I  prom- 
ised the  Lord,  if  my  life  was  spared  to  meet  with  Mr. 
G.  in  this  world  again,  I  would  not  shrink  from  what  I 
felt  was  my  duty.     About  twelve  months  after  this,  while 


EXHORTATION    BEFORE    SERMON.  131 

traveling  for  my  health,  I  was  again  permitted,  by  the 
providence  of  God,  to  meet  with  him  in  his  own  house. 
I  took  the  very  first  opportunity  of  relating  to  him  my 
strange  dream,  in  regard  to  meeting  his  wife  at  the 
judgment,  and  what  she  said  to  me.  I  spoke  freely  and 
candidly  to  him,  in  the  presence  of  his  family,  all  that 
was  in  my  heart;  how  ardently  I  had  prayed  for  him 
ever  since  I  left  the  circuit,  and  then  urged  him  to  em- 
brace the  Savior  without  delay.  He  was  soon  affected  to 
tears,  and  promised  me,  in  the  presence  of  his  wife  and 
children,  to  commence  the  work  of  seeking  religion  im- 
mediately. "  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  forever  I" 
he  soon  found  peace  in  believing,  and  connected  himself 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  This  occurrence 
made  me  change  my  course  of  conduct  entirely,  in  re- 
gard to  unbelievers.  Instead  of  shrinking  from  the 
cross,  I  have  gladly  embraced  suitable  times  and  seasons 
to  converse  with  them  personally  on  the  subject  of 
religion.  "A  word  fitly  spoken  is  like  apples  of  gold  in 
pictures  of  silver/' 

"  Sow  in  the  morn  thy  seed, 
At  eve  hold  not  thy  hand, 
To  doubt  and  fear  give  thou  no  heed, 
Broadcast  it  o'er  the  land." 

In  the  town  of  W.  I  stopped  at  the  house  of  a  brother 
M.  He  had  a  lovely  boy,  about  eight  or  nine  years  old. 
He  was  a  good  child,  and  loved  the  Sabbath  school  and 
class-room.  Whenever  I  visited  his  father  and  mother, 
I  had  a  talk  with  him  about  Jesus  and  the  " mansions  in 
glory,"  prepared  by  Him  for  all  good  children.  It  was 
not  long  till  he  became  much  attached  to  me,  and  would 
come  and  sit  on  my  knee,  or  take  hold  of  my  hand  as  we 
talked  to  the  house  of  God  on  Sabbath  mornings.  He 
was  very  attentive  to  the  word  preached,  and  regularly 
attended  the  means  of  grace.     His  young  and  tender 


132  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

heart  was  given  up  to  the  Savior,  and  he  walked  daily  in 
the  way  of  peace,  and  increased  in  religious  knowledge. 
He  was  ripening  for  glory  and  enlarging  for  God.  Early 
during  the  next  winter,  after  I  had  left  the  circuit,  ho 
was  called  to  "his  happy  home. "  He  died  of  scarlet 
fever.  About  a  week  before  his  last  illness,  while  his 
dear  mother  was  engaged  in  the  room  sewing,  little 
Henry  was  playing  with  his  toys  on  the  floor.  They  were 
all  alone.  At  length  Henry  laid  down  his  playthings 
and  jumped  upon  his  mother's  lap,  clasped  his  arms 
around  her  neck  and  kissed  her.  He  then  said,  "Ma; 
do  you  love  me  ?"  "  0,  yes  V  was  the  satisfactory  reply. 
He  appeared  much  gratified,  and  returned  to  his  play 
again.  But  in  a  few  minutes  he  came  to  her  and  kissed 
her  a  second  time,  and  asked  the  same  question.  She 
answered,  "  You  know  that  I  love  you  very  much,  my 
dear  child."  "Well,  then,"  said  Henry,  "ma,  could  you 
do  without  me?"  "Not  very  well,"  was  her  prompt  re- 
ply. He  went  back  to  his  play,  but  soon  came  back,  and 
looked  very  thoughtful  and  sad.  At  last  he  climbed 
upon  his  mother's  lap  the  third  time,  and  asked  her  the 
same  question,  "  Ma,  do  you  love  me  ?"  and  threw  his 
little  arm  close  around  her  neck.  His  mother  was  very 
much  affected,  and  wept  as  she  replied  the  third  time, 
"Yes!  0,  yes,  Henry,  you  know  your  mother  loves  you 
very  much."  He  then  said,  "Ma,  if  I  should  die  soon, 
you  will  have  to  do  without  me  then,  wouldn't  you?" 
The  fountain  of  her  affections  was  strangely  stirred  at 
this  remark,  and  she  said,  "My  dear  child,  I  would  be 
very  lonely  without  you,  but  I  hope  God  will  spare  you  to 
grow  up  to  manhood,  to  comfort  me  in  my  declining 
years."  He  said  no  more,  but  retired  from  the  room, 
apparently  very  sad.  This  circumstance  made  a  strong 
impression  on  the  heart  of  his  mother,  and,  in  his  ab- 
sence, she  spoke  of  it  to  her  husband  and  little  Henry's 


EXHORTATION    BEFORE     SERMON.  133 

grandmother.  About  one  week  after  this  all  transpired, 
the  child  was  taken  ill  of  scarlet  fever.  From  the  first 
of  his  sickness,  he  had  a  presentiment  that  he  would  not 
recover.  A  number  of  children,  and  some  of  his  play- 
mates, had  died  of  the  same  disease,  and  one  of  them 
was  buried  while  he  lay  sick.  When  he  heard  the  "  toll- 
ing bell,"  he  inquired  of  his  father  what  they  were  ring- 
ing the  bell  for.  His  father  did  not  like  to  tell  him  who 
was  dead,  for  fear  it  might  have  an  unfavorable  effect 
upon  him.  At  last  Henry  looked  up  at  his  father,  and 
said,  "  Father,  you  need  not  be  afraid  to  tell  me ;  I  know 
is  dead,  and  they  are  ' tolling  the  bell'  at  his  fu- 
neral. Father,  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  wish  you  would 
send  for  brother  Gaddis  to  pray  with  me.  I  always  loved 
to  hear  him  preach  and  pray."  When  told  I  was  not  in 
town,  he  requested  them  to  send  for  brother  J.  Foster, 
who  is  now  a  member  of  the  Kentucky  conference. 
Brother  F.  told  me  he  gave  the  most  clear  and  satisfac- 
tory evidence  of  a  "  renewed  spirit/'  of  any  young  person 
that  he  ever  conversed  with.  He  then  made  a  disposi- 
tion of  all  his  toys  and  books,  and  requested  his  father 
to  send  for  me  to  preach  his  funeral.  His  end  was  peace 
and  triumph.  He  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  them  all, 
and  told  his  parents  he  was  "going  home"  to  dwell  with 
Jesus  in  glory.  A  few  moments  before  he  died,  he  made 
the  request  that  I  should  preach  the  funeral  sermon  in 
the  church,  and  "tell  all  his  classmates  that  he  had  gone 
to  heaven."  Soon  after  he  "fell  asleep  in  Jesus."  In  a 
few  weeks,  after  the  death  of  this  dear  child  of  God,  I 
rode  some  fifty  miles  to  comply  with  his  dying  request. 
T  recollect  now  the  time  I  parted  with  that  dear  boy. 
But  I  know  I  shall  see  him  again, 

"  In  that  beautiful  place  He  has  gone  to  prepare, 
For  all  who  are  wash'd  and  forgiven, 
And  many  dear  children  are  gathering  there, 
For  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 


134  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

A  celebrated  queen,  when  bereaved  of  one  of  her  dear 
children,  was  heard  to  exclaim,  "  My  God,  I  have  lost  a 
child;  thou  hast  an  angel  more."  A  beautiful  thought 
beautifully  expressed.  Father,  mother,  weep  not  for 
those  who  have  gone  to  rest  at  early  morn;  they  are  not 
lost,  only  gone  from  earth-born  sorrows  to  a  state  of  end 
less  happiness. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE    CONTRAST. 

Within  the  boundaries  of  my  first  circuit  many 
pleasant  as  well  as  tragic  scenes  passed  before  my  eyes; 
and  as  first  impressions  are  of  value  I  will  record  them 
truthfully  as  they  are  still  engraven  on  the  tablets  of 
memory.  " Entering  a  strange  country  every  thing  pecu- 
liar in  its  appearance  and  in  the  manners  and  fashions  of 
its  people,  is  presented  with  a  vividness  never  afterward 
produced."  This  is  true  of  the  early  years  of  my  itin- 
erant life.  They  are  still  green;  and  my  recollection  of 
what  transpired  more  vivid  than  the  occurrences  of  the 
past  week,  or  any  scenes  through  which  I  have  passed  in 
later  years.  There  is  an  interest  and  charm  about  them 
that  I  wish  I  could  impart  to  others. 

One  of  my  early  associates  in  religion,  sister ,  a 

short  time  before  she  died  requested  me  to  pay  her  a 
pastoral  visit.  I  cordially  complied  with  her  request.  1 
found  her  gradually  " fading  away"  with  consumption. 
Her  eye  was  growing  brighter  as  the  work  of  destruction 
went  slowly  forward;  her  mind  was  calm  and  collected. 
I  found  that  her  soul  rested  on  the  "sure  foundation, " 
and  she  could  bid  defiance  to  the  assaults  of  the  tempter. 


THE     CONTRAST.  135 

At  her  request  the  Holy  Bible  was  brought  and  laid  on 
her  bed,  from  which  I  read  a  consolatory  chapter,  and 
then  prayed  with  her  for  the  last  time.  I  then  said  to 
her,  "We  shall  never  meet  again  in  this  vale  of  tears!" 
She  promptly  replied,  "  I  will  meet  you  in  heaven.  0 
what  a  happy  meeting  that  will  be!  I  am  not  afraid 
to  die !  The  grave  has  no  terrors  for  me !  I  know 
that  my  Redeemer  liveth  I"  and  then  she  lifted  up  her 
emaciated  hands  and  clapped  them  for  joy.  I  then  said : 
"  Sister,  I  must  leave  you !  Have  you  any  words  of  en- 
couragement for  me  in  my  work  as  a  Christian  minister?" 
"0  yes!"  said  she,  "I  have.  Go  out  into  the  highways 
and  hedges  and  compel  them  to  come  in;  assure  them 
there  is  yet  room !  That  Savior  that  has  pardoned  my 
sins  will  forgive  the  vilest  sinner !  Tell  them  all  to  come  ! 
'Christ  died  for  all,  and  all  may  come  and  live  !'  "  Turn- 
ing her  eyes  to  the  old  family  Bible,  she  clasped  it  to  her 
heart  and  exclaimed:  "Precious  volume!  thou  hast  been 
a  lamp  to  my  feet!"  and  then  handing  it  to  me  she  said: 
"0,  brother  Gaddis,  take  this  blessed  word  of  God,  send 
it  to  the  heathen,  publish  its  blessed  truths  wherever  you 
go,  declare  its  threatenings,  proclaim  to  the  weary  and 
heavy  laden  its  precious  promises,  and  tell  them  it  com- 
forts me  in  my  sickness !  and  0  tell  them,  for  me,  it  suits 
every  case  and  is  adapted  to  every  condition !  God  bless 
you  !  Farewell !  Remember  he  that  goeth  forth  weeping, 
bearing  precious  seed,  shall  come  again  with  rejoicing, 
bringing  his  sheaves  with  him!"  I  shall  never  forget 
that  death-bed  scene,  and  how  wonderfully  it  was  sancti- 
fied to  my  own  spiritual  good,  and  the  good  of  others,  in 
the  course  of  my  ministry  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

How  different  the  end  of  the  ungodly,  who  have  neg- 
lected the  "great  salvation!"  I  was  once  called  to  the 
dying  bed  of  a  young  lady  about  midnight.  I  found  her 
dying  in  despair.     I  joined,  with  others,  in  prayer,  but 


136  FOOT -PR  I  NTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

all  hope  of  eternal  life  had  left  her  dark,  benighted 
soul !  She  stated  to  me  that  a  few  months  before  she 
had  attended  a  Methodist  camp  meeting,  and  felt  the 
Holy  Spirit  striving  with  her.  She  went  forward  for 
prayers,  and  found  peace  in  believing.  Soon  after  her 
return  home  she  was  invited  to  a  dancing-party.  At  first 
she  resolved  to  stay  at  home,  but  finally  she  concluded  to 
go.  On  her  way  to  the  dance  the  Spirit  strove  powerfully 
with  her  heart  again,  and  deeply  impressed  her  mind  that 
it  was  for  "the  last  time/'  if  she  engaged  in  the  sinful 
pleasures  of  the  evening.  But,  alas !  the  solemn  warning 
was  disregarded.  In  "the  house  of  mirth"  she  forgot 
G-od,  her  Maker,  and  lightly  esteemed  the  monitions  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  On  her  return  home  she  was  sensibly 
impressed  that  she  had  by  her  conduct  grieved  the  Holy 
Spirit  from  her  youthful  heart.  It  never  strove  with  her 
again !  Before  the  light  of  the  next  morning  she  died  in 
utter  despair  of  the  mercy  of  her  God,  telling  all  of  her 
friends  with  her  last  breath  that  she  had  lost  her  soul  for 
one  night  of  sinful  pleasure  ! 

A  young  man,  with  whom  I  had  been  familiar  from 
the  days  of  my  boyhood,  was  thrown  from  his  horse  one 
Sabbath  morning,  while  galloping  along  the  street  near 
the  Church  where  I  was  preaching.  He  was  badly  injured 
by  the  fall.  He  suffered  much  bodily  pain  for  more  than 
two  weeks.  I  was  sent  for  to  visit  him  a  short  time  be- 
fore his  melancholy  exit.  On  approaching  his  dying  bed 
I  inquired  if  he  wished  me  to  pray?  He  promptly  re- 
plied, "I  do!"  TTe  all  kneeled  around  his  dying  couch, 
and  I  tried  to  present  his  case  to  the  Lord,  but  had  no 
nearness  of  access  to  the  "mercy-seat."  I  arose  and 
attempted  to  sing,  but  could  not.  I  then  asked  one  of 
my  brothers  who  had  accompanied  me  to  pray.  He  made 
the  effort,  but  with  less  boldness  or  liberty  than  usual.  I 
then  invited  another  gentleman,  who  was  a  member  of 


THE     CONTRAST.  137 

the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  lead  in  prayer,  but  he  seemed 
to  have  no  assistance  from  above,  and  told  me  afterward 
that  he  could  not  pray  in  the  spirit  or  with  any  degree  of 
faith.  An  impenetrable  gloom  had  settled  down  upon 
the  chamber  of  this  unfortunate  youth.  I  felt  deeply 
concerned  to  see  him  converted  before  his  departure,  and 
tried  to  awaken  his  fears  and  induce  him  to  pray  for  him- 
self, but  without  success.  In  years  gone  by,  I  had  seen 
him  weep  and  heard  him  pray,  but  his  goodness  was  as 
the  "morning  cloud  and  early  dew,  that  goeth  away." 
Like  many  others,  he  "  heard  the  word  with  gladness," 
but  failed  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  God  by  faith;  and 
now  he  desired  to  feel,  but  could  not;  he  wanted  to  go  to 
heaven,  but  his  "  house  was  left  unto  him  desolate,"  be- 
cause when  the  Savior  would  have  " gathered  him"  unto 
his  Church,  he  "would  not!"  He  watched  me  closely 
for  a  long  time,  and  at  last  laid  his  right  hand  upon  his 
heart,  wept  bitterly,  and  cried  aloud  :  "0 !  how  hard  it  is  ' 
0  !  how  hard  it  is  !  0  !  how  hard  it  is !"  I  took  his  hand 
in  mine  and  said:  "H.,  do  tell  me  what  it  is  that  seems 
to  distress  you  so  much  in  your  last  hours."  With  a  look 
of  inexpressible  anguish  he  exclaimed:  uO!  how  hard 
it  is  to  die  without  religion !  0 !  how  hard  it  is  to  die 
without  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ !  0 !  how  hard  it  is 
to  die  without  religion  !"  With  this  last  exclamation  his 
voice  failed,  and  he  gradually  sunk  into  the  arms  of 
death,  without  one  solitary  ray  of  hope  to  gild  the  gloom 
of  his  departing  hours. 

0,  could  we  go  to  the  place  where  God  has  forgotten  to 
be  gracious,  and  ask  its  miserable  inhabitants  the  cause 
of  their  ruin,  the  answer  given  by  multitudes  would  be, 
"Delay!"  "W^hen  in  the  land  of  hope  I  often  heard  of 
salvation  till  death  came,  and  with  it  my  summons  to  the 
judgment-seat!"  Delay!  delay!  has  damned  its  thou- 
sands, making  them  wait  till  the  door  of  mercy  was  closed  ! 
12 


138  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

Sinner  !-  awake  !  awake  !     Escape  for  thy  life  !     Tarry  not 
in  all  the  plains ! 

"To-morrow,  0  how  oft  thou  hast  sworn 
To  change  thy  life,  my  friend! 
Thus  always  'twill  be,  one  day  more 
Ere  you  begin  to  mend. 

When  I  have  finished  this  affair, 

Mj  actions  I'll  review; 
Or  when  I've  brought  this  scheme  to  bear 

Begin  my  life  anew. 

An  idiot  thus,  who  saw  his  way 

Across  a  river  lie, 
Resolved  upon  its  banks  to  play, 

Till  all  the  stream  ran  by. 

But  torrents  with  united  force 

Augment  the  flowing  river, 
"Which  still  pursues  its  rapid  course, 

And  murmuring  flows  forever" 

A  few  years  after  this  sad  occurrence  a  revival  of  re- 
ligion was  in  progress  in  that  same  town.  Many  found 
the  "  pearl  of  great  price/''  and  pressed  into  the  visible 
Church.  A  youth,  who  was  awakened  at  an  early  stage 
of  the  meeting,  became  much  discouraged,  and,  at  the 
close  of  the  exercises  at  the  altar  one  evening,  told  the 
minister,  Rev.  R.  S.  F.,  that  she  did  not  intend  to  come  to 
the  altar  of  prayer  any  more.  He  asked  why?  She  re- 
plied, "I  have  been  here  eleven  nights  and  have  not 
found  peace;  it  is  no  use  to  come  again,  for  I  believe 
there  is  no  mercy  for  me  !''  lie  urged  her  to  come  again, 
and  did  not  leave  her  till  she  gave  him  a  promise  to  come 
once  more.  She  was  there  in  due  time  the  night  follow- 
ing, and,  before  the  close  of  the  exercises,  found  Him  of 
whom  Moses  in  the  law  and  the  prophets  did  write.  Her 
ecstasy  was  very  great,  and  she  arose,  proclaimed  aloud 
the  signal  victory  she  had  at  last  obtained  over  the 
powers  of  darkness.     The  glad  news  went  up  to  heaven, 


THE    CONTRAST.  139 

and  the  angels  rejoiced  over  another  sinner  saved  by  the 
blood  of  Jesus. 

About  ten  days  after  her  conversion  she  sickened  and 
died  very  suddenly.  Just  before  her  death,  however,  she 
sent  for  brother  F.  He  was  soon  present  at  her  dying 
bed.  She  remarked  to  him  as  follows  :  "I  could  not  die 
contentedly  till  I  saw  you  once  more.  I  want  to  thank 
you  now  for  urging  me  to  go  to  the  altar  the  'twelfth 
time!'  If  I  had  not  gone  back  again  I  might  at  this  mo- 
ment have  been  dying  without  hope  in  Christ !  But  I 
thank  the  Lord  I  did  go  to  the  altar  that  evening;  there 
I  obtained  pardon,  and  I  feel  now  that  I  am  prepared  to 
go !     I  want  you  to  join  and  sing — 

1  Bright  angels  are  from  glory  come, 
They're  round  my  bed,  they're  in  my  room, 
They  wait  to  waft  my  spirit  home ! 

All  is  well!    All  is  well!'" 

Her  request  was  cheerfully  complied  with,  and  while  they 
were  singing  her  favorite  song  her  "redeemed  spirit" 
was  set  free  and  borne  aloft  to  mingle  with  the  spirits  of 
the  just  before  the  throne. 

This  young  lady  was  the  youngest  sister  of  the  unfor- 
tunate young  man,  whose  death  I  have  just  described  in 
the  preceding  pages.  I  have  only  to  ask  the  reader 
which  of  these  death-beds  would  be  the  most  desirable, 
the  former  or  the  latter?  As  you  would  dread  the  one 
prefer  the  other.  Let  me  exhort  you  now  to  give  your 
heart  to  God  "  before  the  Master  rises  up  and  shuts  the 
door,  and  you  stand  without  and  knock !" 


140  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

REMARKABLE    DEATH  S — M  YSTERIOUS    FAMILY 

"The  wicked  is  driven  away  in  his  wickedness.* 
This  declaration  was  most  strikingly  exemplified  in  th« 
terrible  death  of  a  Mr. ,  one  of  my  earliest  acquaint- 
ances. He  was  a  man  of  herculean  strength,  and  seemed 
to  take  much  pleasure  in  gaming  and  fighting.  He  was 
not  in  trouble  as  other  men.  Violence  covered  him  as  a 
garment.  He  "  set  his  mouth  against  the  heavens/' 
and  the  fear  of  him  fell  upon  all  with  whom  he  had  in- 
tercourse. He  had  often  said,  "  What  is  the  Almighty 
that  I  should  serve  him?"  and  unto  God,  "Depart  from 
me,  I  desire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy  ways."  But 
"how  oft  is  the  candle  of  the  wicked  put  out,  and  how 
oft  cometh  sudden  destruction  upon  them  !  They  are  as 
stubble  before  the  wind,  and  as  chaff  that  the  storm  car- 
rieth    away."     "God    distributetii    sorrows   in    his 

anger."     Mr.  was  seized  with  a  dangerous  malady 

in  the  midst  of  his  worldly  prosperity  and  rebellion 
against  God.  One  day,  while  alone  upon  his  bed,  he  de- 
clared that  he  saw  the  " undertaker "  come  in  and  lay  his 
coffin  along  side  of  him  on  the  bed,  and  then  disappear 
with  apparent  alarm  and  haste.  He  immediately  called 
his  wife  and  told  her  what  he  had  seen.  She  made  light 
of  it,  and  told  him  that  his  brain  was  excited  with  fever. 
He  replied,  "  You  may  think  as  you  please,  but  I  know  I 
shall  die  soon,  and  God  has  taken  this  strange  method  to 
warn  me  of  my  approaching  end."  He  became  concerned 
about  his  soul,  and  sent  for  my  brother  John  and  others, 
to  pray  for  him.  During  that  night,  "visions"  of  heaven 
and  hell  passed  before  his  mind.  The  next  day  he  re- 
lated many  things  of   interest  that  he   saw  and  heard. 


REMARKABLE     DEATHS.  141 

He  said  he  saw  in  the  distance  some  of  his  friends  in 
glory,  that  he  and  others  thought  would  never  reach 
there,  and  near  by  him,  in  hell,  he  met  many  an  old  ac- 
quaintance among  the  lost  that  some  supposed  had  gone 
to  heaven.  Human  language  would  utterly  fail  to  convey 
an  adequate  idea  of  the  mental  sufferings  of  this  man 
before  his  exit.  "The  ruling  passion  was  strong  in 
death,"  and  when  he  felt  that  God  had  forsaken  him  and 
would  not  listen  to  his  cry,  he  nerved  himself  for  the 
conflict,  and  attempted  to  measure  arms  with  the  Al- 
mighty, as  though  his  sinews  were  brass,  and  his  bones 
iron.  He  tried  to  brave  death  without  dismay.  But, 
alas !  it  was  a  vain  hope ;  u  his  feet  stumbled  upon  the 
dark  mountains,  and  when  he  looked  for  light,  God 
turned  it  into  the  shadow  of  death,  and  made  it  gross 
darkness.  His  soul  fainted  in  the  swelling  of  Jordan," 
and  he  trembled  at  the  thought  of  meeting  God  in 
judgment. 

His  sickness  spread  a  fearful  gloom  over  the  entire 
community,  and  all  confessed  the  hand  of  God  had 
touched  him.  Fear  fell  upon  the  unconverted,  and,  after 
his  death,  many  of  them  turned  to  the  Lord.  As  his 
disease  progressed,  his  physical  strength  remained  un- 
diminished. At  length  he  became  abusive  and  quarrel- 
some toward  his  attendants,  and  they  found  it  impossible 
to  keep  him  in  bed.  The  Holy  Spirit  at  last  left  him 
without  one  good  emotion,  and  he  was  "given  over  to 
hardness  of  heart  and  a  reprobacy  of  mind,  to  work  out," 
as  he  said,  "  his  own  damnation  with  greediness."  He 
told  his  friends  that  he  felt  the  fires  of  hell  burning 
within  him.  All  at  last  were  wearied  out  with  holding 
him  during  his  fearful  paroxysms  and  efforts,  as  he  said, 
to  u  get  away  from  God ;"  and  they  procured  a  piece  of 
girthing,  and  wrapped  it  under  the  bed  rails  across  his 
body,  below  his  chest,  down   to  his   feet.     He  was  pin- 


142  FOOT- PR  I  NTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

ioned  down  in  this  strange  manner,  when  I  saw  him  first 
during  his  affliction.  0  it  was  a  melancholy  sight,  and 
one  that  none  could  long  endure  with  composure.  Ilia 
profanity  and  obscenity  drove  his  wife  and  all  the  female 
attendants  from  his  presence.  Cursing,  ribaldry,  jesting, 
and  vulgar  song-singing,  filled  up  the  last  days  of  this 
unfortunate  man.  The  night  on  which  he  died,  his  kind 
physician  bled  him  in  the  right  arm.  While  the  blood 
was  running  he  swore  in  the  most  horrid  manner,  and 
asked  the  doctor  if  it  "was  not  cowardly  to  tie  a  man 
from  head  to  foot  upon  his  bed,  and  then  bleed  him 
against  his  will."  l'Sir>"  said  the  wretched  man,  "if 
my  arm  was  free  I  would  send  you  down  to  perdition  in  a 
moment,  at  a  single  blow."  At  times  he  would  hiss,  and 
make  sounds  somewhat  similar  to  those  made  by  infuriated 
cats  at  night  in  a  garret.  His  very  countenance  spoke 
the  anguish  of  his  soul.  His  eyes  were  red  and  fiery, 
roaming  around  the  house  with  a  deep  piercing  look  that 
struck  terror  into  every  heart.  I  thought  of  the  words 
of  the  Psalmist,  "  Surely  thou  didst  set  them  in  slippery 
places :  thou  casteth  them  down  into  destruction.  How 
are  they  brought  into  desolation  as  in  a  moment !  they 
are  utterly  consumed  with  terrors.  As  a  dream  when 
one  awaketh,  so,  0  Lord,  when  thou  awakest,  thou  shalt 
despise  their  image."  About  an  hour  before  he  died  he 
called  aloud  for  water;  but  when  it  was  brought  to  his 
bed  he  refused  to  drink  of  it,  and  told  the  cup-bearer 
that  he  would  take  a  drink  from  God,  only  because  no 
one  but  God  could  inflict  such  punishment  as  he  endured 
at  that  hour.  He  then  called  on  God  for  a  drink  of 
water,  but  called  in  vain,  and  then,  in  the  most  awful 
manner,  cursed  God,  and  cursed  Jesus  Christ,  and  cursed 
the  Holy  Ghost,  two  or  three  times.  After  this  "the 
sorrows  of  death  encompassed  him,  and  the  pains  of  hell 
took  hold  upon  him."     I  was  alarmed  and  horror-struck, 


REMARKABLE    DEATHS.  143 

and  could  no  longer  endure  the  sight.  I  retired  from  the 
house,  and  asked  a  friend  to  accompany  me  home.  In  a 
short  time  after  I  left,  he  placed  his  upper  teeth  upon 
his  lower  lip,  bit  it  entirely  off,  and  attempted  to  swallow 
it;  but  it  lodged  in  the  upper  part  of  the  larynx.  In  a 
moment  after  this  awful  scene  the  brittle  cord  of  life 
suddenly  snapped  asunder.  After  his  death,  Dr.  C.  ex- 
tracted the  lip  from  his  throat,  and  replaced  it  upon  his 
marred  visage.  0  it  was  a  sad  sight,  such  as  I  hope 
never  to  witness  again.  If  such  the  death  of  the  un- 
godly in  time,  0  what  terrors  hang  around  "  the  second 
death  !"  What  shall  be  his  portion  in  that  world  of  woe, 
with  the  never-dying  sting  of  death  writhing  his  soul, 

"Where  shrieks  the  roaring  flame  and  rattling  chain, 
And  all  the  dreadful  eloquence  of  pain 
His  only  song !  black  fire's  malignant  light 
The  sole  refreshment  of  his  blasted  sight !" 

and  in  this  state  wishing  for  annihilation  to  end  his 
being,  but  no  relief  found,  and  at  the  same  time  crying 
out, 

"Just  is  my  lot,  but  0 !  must  it  transcend 
The  reach  of  time,  despair  a  distant  end ; 
"With  dreadful  growth  shoot  forward  and  arise, 
Where  thought  can't  follow  and  bold  fancy  dies!" 

At  one  of  my  regular  places  of  preaching,  a  young  man 
was  suddenly  called  away  under  the  most  trying  and 
painful  circumstances.  He  was  engaged  to  be  married  to 
a  very  amiable  young  lady,  the  daughter  of  a  Methodist 
minister.  The  time  was  fast  approaching  for  the  mar- 
riage ceremonies.  All  necessary  preparations  were  made, 
and  in  a  few  days  they  expected  to  be  united  in  happy 
wedlock.     But,  0,  alas  !  how  changed  the  scene  ! 

"  What  shadows  we  are,  what  shadows  we  pursue  !" 

Our  young  friend  was  taken  sick.  At  first  his  disease 
was  of  such  a  character  as  to  excite  no  alarm,  but;  on  a 


144  FOOT-PRINTS   OF   AN   ITINERANT. 

sudden,  it  assumed  a  dangerous  type.  His  physician 
soon  discovered  unfavorable  symptoms,  and  used  every 
effort  to  subdue  the  raging  malady,  but  in  vain.  At 
length  fears  were  entertained  of  his  recovery.  [lis 
visions  of  earthly  bliss  all  faded  in  a  moment,  and  he 
began  to  turn  his  eyes  to  the  solemn  scenes  of  eternity 
just  before  him.  I  was  sent  for  to  visit  him  in  time 
of  need,  and  found  him  sinking  very  fast.  He  was  a 
young  man  greatly  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  upright  in  all  his  outward  deportment;  but  although 
blest  with  pious  parents,  and  every  opportunity  of  em- 
bracing religion,  he  was  still  without  any  evidence  of  his 
acceptance  with  God;  not  even  connected  with  the  visi- 
ble Church.  He  was  penitent,  and  asked  me  to  preach 
and  pray  for  him.  I  had  often  preached  in  the  same 
house,  but  under  very  different  circumstances.  A  small 
stand  was  placed  near  the  head  of  the  dying  young  man. 
The  Bible  and  h}-mn-book  was  soon  placed  upon  it  by  the 
hand  of  an  affectionate  mother,  who  took  her  seat  close 
by  the  side  of  his  bed.  An  aged  father,  Dr.  C.,  two 
other  members  of  the  family,  and  one  or  two  of  the  near- 
est neighbors,  made  up  the  congregation.  Never  before, 
or  since,  have  I  preached  the  Gospel  under  such  soul- 
stirring  circumstances;  the  sands  of  life  were  swiftly 
ebbing  out.  I  knew  that  I  was  about  to  speak  to  one  for 
the  last  time  that  I  had  familiarly  known  from  his  child- 
hood. Standing  in  the  chamber  of  death  to  preach 
"Jesus  and  the  resurrection,"  I  selected  for  my  text  on 
that  memorable  occasion,  the  following  beautiful  words : 
"Unto  you  that  believe  he  is  precious."  When  about 
half  way  through  my  discourse,  while  telling  them  how 
"precious"  the  Savior  was  to  the  believer  in  the  dark 
and  cheerless  hours  of  affliction,  my  young  friend  fixed 
his  dying  gaze  upon  me,  and  seemed  to  listen  with 
marked   attention.     Tears  and   sighs,  mingled  with   fer- 


MYSTERIOUS    FAMILY.  145 

vent  prayers,  filled  the  room.  Before  I  closed  my  re- 
marks, he,  for  whose  benefit  I  was  preaching,  had  lost 
the  power  of  articulation.  The  organs  of  hearing  were 
closed,  no  more  to  open  to  the  charming  sound  of  the 
Gospel.  I  only  ceased  to  speak  when  I  was  certain  that 
he  could  hear  no  more.  I  kneeled  down  and  commended 
his  soul  to  God,  and  his  heart-stricken  parents  to  the  es- 
pecial care  of  our  heavenly  Father.  The  last  rays  of  the 
sun  were  visible  on  the  tops  of  the  tall  trees  skirting  the 
lofty  hills  on  the  north  of  that  gloomy  household.  The 
shades  of  evening  were  coming  on,  and  as  I  had  several 
miles  to  travel  to  my  lodging,  I  was  compelled  to  bid 
them  farewell.  Before  the  light  of  the  next  morning, 
the  spirit  of  the  sufferer  was  with  God.  A  knowledge 
of  the  mournful  event  was  early  communicated  to  the 
young  lady  to  whom  he  was  to  have  been  married;  and 
on  the  day  fixed  for  their  wedding,  clad  in  weeds  of 
mourning,  she  followed  her  betrothed  "to  the  silent  grave. 

"  Fat©  steals  along  with,  silent  tread, 
Found  oftenest  in  what  least  we  dread  ; 
Frowns  in  the  storm  with  angry  brow, 
But  in  the  sunshine  strikes  the  blow." 

While  traveling  near  one  of  my  appointments,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio  river,  there  lived  a  strange  family, 
which  I  visited  under  somewhat  trying  and  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances. They  were  strangers  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  and  there  were  but  very  few  who  knew  even  the 
name  by  which  they  were  called.  They  had  no  commu- 
nication whatever  with  any  of  their  neighbors,  and 
studiedly  avoided  making  any  acquaintances.  The  old 
gentleman  had  connected  himself  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  by  letter  from  the  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odists m  England,  but  he  seldom  found  time  to  attend  to 
the  means  of  grace  during  the  week.  At  an  early  period 
of  the  year,  I  began  to  inquire  into  the  history  of  tho 
13 


146  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

family,  but  could  meet  with  no  one  who  knew  any  thing 
about  them.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  I  proposed  to  go 
and  visit  them  m}'self.  The  leader  of  the  class  in  the 
neighborhood  told  me  it  would  be  labor  and  time  lost,  for 
I  could  not  get  into  the  house.  I  then  inquired  the 
reason  why  he  thought  I  would  not  be  admitted.  He 
then  stated  that  no  one  had  ever  been  permitted  to  enter 
that  house  since  Mr.  had  settled  in  the  neighbor- 
hood and  become  its  occupant.  He  also  remarked  that 
his  own  wife,  and  a  number  of  other  ladies,  had  paid 
them  a  visit,  but  were  not  invited  to  go  in.  The  lady  of 
the  house  always  came  to  the  door  herself,  and  answered 
very  politely  any  questions  that  were  proposed  to  her,  but 
had  never  invited  or  permitted  any  one  to  cross  her  door- 
sill.  This  narration  excited  my  curiosity,  and  as  I  was 
ready  for  adventure,  and  full  of  faith  and  zeal,  I  arose 
from  my  seat  and  ordered  my  horse,  remarking  to  brother 
N.  that  I  intended  to  go  and  stay  all  night  at  that  very 
house.  He  laughed  heartily  at  this,  and  said,  "I  have  no 
objection  to  your  going  to  visit  the  house,  but  I  am  cer- 
tain you  will  not  get  even  the  privilege  of  seeing  how 
matters  are  'fixed  up'  within. "  I  answered,  "I  am  re- 
solved, by  the  help  of  God,  to  make  the  trial;  perhaps  I 
may  overcome  their  prejudices,  and  be  the  means  of 
doing  them  good."  I  started  off  in  fine  spirits,  and  prayed 
fervently  as  I  rode  down  the  hill  toward  the  beautiful 
Ohio.  The  house  of  the  strangers  stood  immediately  on 
the  bank  of  the  river  I  passed  up  the  lane,  arrived  at 
the  gate,  dismounted,  took  my  saddle-bags  on  my  arm, 
and  walked  leisurely  toward  the  side  door  next  the  gate. 
As  I  approached  near  to  the  house,  the  door  was  opened, 
and  rather  an  interesting-looking  English  lady  pre- 
sented herself  before  me.     I  spoke  to  her,  and  inquired 

if  Mr.  resided  there.     She  answered  affirmatively 

I  then  asked  if  he  was  at  home.     She  replied  that  he  was 


MYSTERIOUS    FAMILY.  147 

at  work  on  the  farm,  and  that  she  would  send  out  one  of 
the  children  and  have  him  called  immediately.  During 
all  this  conversation  she  kept  her  hand  on  the  door;  and 
never  intimated  that  she  wished  me  to  enter  the  house. 
1  at  length  remarked,  "I  am  very  weary;  I  believe  I  will 
go  in  and  sit  down  till  your  husband  comes  in  from  the 
field."  At  this  her  cheek  crimsoned,  and  she  moved  back 
a  few  paces  into  the  hall,  but  said  nothing.  I  instantly 
followed  on  her  heels.  She  then  stood  a  little  to  one 
side,  and  I  walked  into  the  sitting-room,  and  took  a  seat 
near  the  hall  door.  She  soon  walked  by  me,  but  did  not 
speak.  She  appeared  much  agitated,  and  soon  left  the 
room.  I  discovered  that  she  was  much  displeased  at  my 
rather  unceremonious  way  of  entering  her  house,  but  I 
said  nothing  by  way  of  apology,  preferring  much  rather 
that  she  should  be  left  to  her  own  reflections.  She  had 
a  number  of  sweet  and  interesting  children,  among  whom 
I  noticed  a  handsome  daughter,  who  seemed  to  be  much 
embarrassed  by  my  unexpected  intrusion ;  for  such,  I  am 
confident,  they  regarded  my  entrance  at  that  time.  I 
spoke  kindly  to  the  young  children,  inquired  their  names, 
asked  them  how  old  they  were,  and  tried  to  pass  off  the 
time  as  agreeably  as  I  could  till  the  old  gentleman  should 
come  in  from  the  fields.  After  a  long  time  he  made  his 
appearance,  and  received  me  very  kindly  indeed.  I  en- 
tered into  a  lengthy  conversation  about  matters  and 
;hings  in  general,  and  whiled  away  the  time  till  the  sun 
went  down.  I  then  told  him  I  would  be  very  glad  if  I 
could  remain  with  them  during  the  night.  He  replied 
that  he  had  no  objection,  if  I  was  willing  to  put  up  with 
their  fare.  His  wife  then  rose  up,  and  looking  me  full 
in  the  face,  said,  "  We  don't  entertain  strangers,  and  no 
doubt  you  can  find  much  better  accommodation  in  any 
part  of  the  neighborhood. "  Her  husband  soon  went  out, 
and    left   me    and  his   s;ood    wife   to   settle   the   matter 


148  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

between  ourselves.  I  then  told  her  I  was  traveling  more 
or  less  every  day,  and  that  I  had  poor  health,  and  did  not 
feel  able  to  go  any  further  without  suffering.  She  then 
replied  that  she  was  not  prepared  to  keep  me.  I  told 
her  I  was  not  hard  to  please,  and  that  all  I  wished  was 
some  bread  and  milk  for  supper,  and  a  place  to  sleep  till 
daylight,  and  then  I  should  proceed  on  my  journey.  It 
was  now  almost  dark,  and  the  old  gentleman  had  put  my 
horse  up.  I  walked  to  the  door  and  said,  "  Well,  I  sup- 
pose your  husband  intends  I  shall  stay,  as  I  see  he  has 
put  up  my  horse."  At  this  she  said  no  more,  but  ap- 
peared very  much  disquieted  in  mind.  I  then  began  to 
talk  very  freely,  apparently  unconscious  of  her  unwilling- 
ness to  permit  me  to  remain.  I  catechised  her  almost 
constantly,  determined  to  make  her  talk,  if  possible. 
This  I  soon  found  a  very  difficult  undertaking,  and  I 
turned  my  attention  to  the  children.  They  were  very 
polite,  but  as  unwilling  to  converse  as  their  mother.  At 
last  I  touched  the  right  cord  with  one  of  the  little  fel- 
lows, and  he  began  to  laugh  and  talk  with  me  very  freely. 
This  was  a  great  relief;  the  others  soon  caught  the  same 
feeling,  and  the  evening  passed  rapidly  away.  After 
supper  I  was  invited  to  retire  for  the  night.  I  told  the 
old  gentleman  it  had  been  my  custom  in  all  my  travels 
through  the  country,  to  have  prayers  in  the  families 
where  I  tarried  at  night,  unless  it  was  objected  to.  He 
said  he  had  no  objections,  and  he  began  to  look  round 
for  the  old  "  family  Bible."  It  had  never  been  unpacked 
since  they  came  to  America — a  smaller  copy  of  the 
Scriptures  occupied  its  place,  and  was  generally  used  by 
the  members  of  the  household.  How  often  is  it  the 
case  that  professors  of  religion  in  removing  to  a  new 
country  get  careless  in  regard  to  their  duty!  At  length 
it  was  brought  forth  and  laid  before  me.  It  was  an  ele- 
gant copy,  bound  in  calf,  with  heavy  clasps,  and  bore  the 


MYSTERIOUS    FAMILY.  149 

marks  of  having  been  freely  used.     I  read  a  portion  of 
the  sacred  word  and  sung, 

"  Peace  be  on  this  house  bestowed, 
Peace  on  all  that  here  reside ; 
Let  the  unknown  peace  of  God 
With  the  man  of  peace  abide. 

Christ,  my  Master  and  my  Lord, 

Let  me  thy  forerunner  be ; 
0  be  mindful  of  thy  word, 

Visit  them  and  visit  me  ! 

To  this  house  and  all  herein, 

Now  let  thy  salvation  come; 
Save  our  souls  from  inbred  sin, 

Make  us  thy  eternal  home." 

During  prayer  a  blessing  was  asked  upon  parents  and 
children;  and  while  I  was  calling  upon  the  G-od  of  Jacob 
who  had  protected  them  upon  the  ocean,  and  guided 
them  safely  to  the  shores  of  this  "  goodly  land/'  the  heart 
of  the  husband  was  moved  at  the  remembrance  of  the 
mercies  of  God.  He  wept,  and  it  was  not  long  till  sighs 
and  sobs  filled  the  little  room.  My  own  soul  rose  higher 
and  higher  on  the  wings  of  faith — the  Spirit  helped  my 
infirmities,  and  I  had  nearness  of  access  to  the  throne  of 
grace.  That  was  an  hour  of  "pure  and  fervent  devo- 
tion," never  to  be  forgotten  by  the  young  itinerant  in 
time  or  in  eternity.  It  was  an  oasis  in  life's  weary 
journey,  whose  goodly  cheer  refreshed  the  spirits.  On 
rising  from  our  knees  the  children  continued  to  weep  for 
some  time. 

The  scene  now  changed,  and  before  I  retired  to  rest 
that  night,  the  family  were  satisfied  that  their  strange 
guest  was  the  junior  preacher  of  that  circuit.  "It  is 
strange,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  "that  I  did  not  know 
you,  but  then  I  only  heard  you  preach  once ;  I  have  not 
attended  meeting  often  the  past  winter.  Did  you  preach 
on    the    hill    to-day?"     I    replied    that   I  did,  and  was 


150  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

sorry  that  so  few  turned  out  to  the  preaching  of  the  word 
in  that  neighborhood.  He  then  gave  me  a  full  account 
of  his  conversion,  and  subsequent  Christian  life,  in  con- 
nection with  the  Wesleyan  3Iethodists  in  his  native  land. 
"The  night  was  far  spent"  before  he  allowed  me  to  re- 
tire. Early  the  next  day  we  were  again  assembled  for 
prayers,  and  the  "  glory  of  G-od  filled  the  house."  The 
parents  wept,  and  the  children  cried  and  sobbed  aloud. 
The  oldest  daughter  was  powerfully  awakened,  and  before 
my  departure,  the  mother  and  daughter  both  promised  to 
unite  with  the  Church,  and  devote  the  balance  of  their 
lives  to  the  service  of  God.  I  tarried  with  them  till 
about  ten  o'clock  that  day,  and  still  they  urged  me  to 
tarry  longer.  When  I  at  last  took  my  departure,  the 
mother  and  daughter  both  followed  me  out  to  the  gate, 
and  made  me  promise  to  make  them  another  visit  some 
time  during  the  summer.  They  wept  when  I  bade  them 
adieu,  and  assured  me  of  a  more  cordial  welcome  on  my 
return.  On  my  second  round  I  was  prevented  from  ful- 
filling my  engagement,  and  before  I  had  another  oppor- 
tunity, the  family  became  dissatisfied  with  their  new 
location,  sold  out  their  farm,  and  moved  to  the  far 
west.  I  never  saw  them  again.  Should  this  narrative 
meet  their  eye,  I  hope  they  will  call  to  remembrance 
their  vows  to  meet  me  in  heaven. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE    SUICIDE. 


The  history  of  Captain  V.  H.  M.  is  one  of  thrilling 
interest  to  all  who  had  any  knowledge  of  his  unfortunate 
career.  He  was  a  fine-looking  man,  nearly  six  feet  high. 
When  I  first  saw  him  he  was  very  handsome;  but  long 


THE    SUICIDE.  151 

before  his  death  his  visage  was  horribly  marred  by  in- 
temperance. He  then  walked  the  streets  with  bloodshot 
eyes  and  a  blotched  face.  He  had  by  trading  amassed 
considerable  property,  quite  enough  to  have  made  him 
independent  all  the  days  of  his  life;  but  he  could  not 
conquer  his  love  for  ardent  spirits.  In  order  that  he 
might  drink  all  that  he  desired,  he  opened  a  liquor- 
shop  in  one  corner  of  his  warehouse,  close  to  his  private 
dwelling.  Here,  every  day  surrounded  by  kindred  spirits, 
he  partook  of  drugged  wines  and  brandy  till  his  constitu- 
tion, already  shattered  by  long-continued  bad  practices, 
gave  evident  signs  of  speedy  decay.  This  alarmed  him 
very  much,  and  he  sought  medical  advice.  His  family 
physician  advised  him  to  desist,  or  he  would  die  soon. 
He  tried  to  abstain,  but  soon  returned  to  his  cup  again, 
and  in  a  little  time  was  worse  than  before.  He  had 
a  very  severe  attack,  in  which  the  muscles  of  his  right 
thigh  and  leg  lost  nearly  all  sense  of  feeling.  He  called 
for  a  consultation  of  all  the  physicians  in  the  place,  and 
demanded  of  them  a  thorough  examination  of  his  condi- 
tion. At  length  they  told  him  candidly  he  must  quit 
drinking  or  he  would  soon  die.  His  constitution  was 
now  completely  broken.  As  soon  as  he  was  so  far  recov- 
ered as  to  be  able  to  go  out  again,  I  had  a  long  conversa- 
tion with  him.  He  told  me  that  he  could  not  forsake  his 
cup,  and  he  knew  that  he  should  die  soon,  and  dying  in 
his  present  state  he  should  be  lost  forever!  He  asked 
me  if  I  thought  there  was  any  hope  of  a  man  obtaining 
mercy  who  had  become  so  vile  as  he  was?  I  told  him 
that  there  was;  that  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners,  and  the  very  chief  of  transgressors  against  God 
might  obtain  mercy,  if  they  would  repent  and  believe  the 
Gospel.  I  asked  him  to  come  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  hear  the  Gospel  preached.  He  did  come  for 
two  or  three  Sabbaths,  and  at  times  appeared  to  be  much 


152  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

affected,  and  once  I  saw  him  weep  bitterly.  He  soon  be- 
came very  wretched;  and  told  his  wife  repeatedly  that  he 
would  destroy  his  own  life.  Sometimes,  after  the  usual 
hour  of  retiring  to  bed,  he  would  come  into  the  room  and 
take  off  his  coat  and  cravat,  and  setting  a  small  looking- 
glass  on  the  mantle  before  him,  would  get  his  razor  and 
step  back  in  the  floor  before  his  afflicted  companion,  and 
stand  there  for  more  than  an  hour  declaring  that  he  would 
cut  his  throat  from  ear  to  ear!  At  other  times,  after  sup- 
per, he  would  put  his  cloak  around  him,  and  pull  out  his 
gold  watch  and  tell  his  wife  to  keep  it  for  his  youngest 
child;  he  would  then  kiss  the  child  and  his  wife,  and  walk 
out  with  the  intention  of  going  to  the  river  to  drown  him- 
self. Who  can  describe  the  hours  of  anguish  and  painful 
suspense  endured  by  his  suffering  companion?  Often  he 
would  not  return  till  midnight,  and  at  other  times  not  till 
the  next  morning.  He  wandered  about  the  streets  some- 
times during  the  night  like  one  forsaken  by  God  and  man. 
I  recollect  one  morning  I  arose  quite  early,  and,  passing 
by  his  house,  found  him  lying  in  the  front  door,  with  his 
feet  resting  on  the  steps,  the  door  being  partly  shut 
He  was  sound  asleep,  and  perhaps  had  lain  there  the 
greater  part  of  the  night.  In  this  wretched  state  of 
mind  he  spent  the  summer  and  fall.  He  felt  that  he  was 
not  fit  to  live,  and  yet  he  was  unwilling  to  die.  He  could 
not  get  away  from  himself.  He  had  a  state  of  mind  "not 
to  be  changed  by  place  or  time;"  a  deadly  vulture  waa 
gnawing  at  his  vitals;  a  fire  was  kindled  in  his  bosom 
that  many  waters  could  not  quench. 

Through  a  young  man  that  boarded  with  him  he  had 
heard  something  about  the  doctrine  of  Universalism :  it 
pleased  him  well,  and  all  he  needed  now  was  to  bring 
himself  fully  to  believe  it.  This  lesson  was  a  difficult 
one  to  learn.  At  that  period  no  Universalist  had  ever 
preached  in  the  place,  and  but  few  of  the  citizens  knew 


THE    SUICIDE.  153 

any  thing  about  their  doctrines.  This,  however,  was  not 
long  after  Messrs.  Kidwell  &  Waldo  had  commenced  the 
publication,  in  Cincinnati,  of  a  periodical  advocating  the 
peculiar  views  of  that  deluded  sect.  The  Captain  re- 
solved to  go  down  to  the  city  and  see  them,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  persuading  one  of  them  to  come  up  and  preach  a 
few  sermons  upon  that  particular  topic,  hoping  thereby  to 
find  relief  for  a  "  troubled  conscience."  He  succeeded 
in  procuring  the  services  of  one  of  the  editors;  but  I  do 
not  recollect  which  of  them  it  was  that  came  home  with 
him.  It  was  publicly  announced  that  he  would  preach  in 
the  old  frame  school-house,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town, 
on  Main-street.  I  did  not  attend,  but  Doctor  C,  an  old 
and  respectable  citizen,  who  was  present,  gave  me  a  full 
account  of  the  sermon.  The  text  on  the  occasion  was 
from  James  iv,  12:  "There  is  one  lawgiver,  who  is  able 
to  save  and  to  destroy."  The  object  of  the  speaker  was 
to  show  that  Jesus  Christ  would  destroy  all  "partialism," 
or  the  doctrines  taught  by  orthodox  Churches,  and  that 
he  would  finally  raise  all  mankind  to  a  state  of  holiness 
and  happiness  in  the  world  to  come.  He  insisted  that 
this  doctrine  was  plainly  taught  by  the  " law-giver" 
referred  to  in  the  text,  and  urged  his  congregation — 
which  consisted  of  only  about  a  dozen  persons — to  em- 
brace the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation,  and  give  up  all 
unnecessary  anxiety  about  the  great  future.  The  con- 
gregation was  dismissed,  but  the  Captain  was  slow  of 
heart  to  believe  this  strange  doctrine;  he  wanted  the 
preacher  to  preach  again,  but  he  would  not  consent,  be- 
cause so  few  had  gone  down  to  hear  him.  However,  the 
Captain  prevailed  on  him  to  remain  at  his  house  nearly 
all  the  week  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  him  this  com- 
forting doctrine  more  perfectly.  At  length  he  became 
satisfied,  and  let  the  preacher  return  home  to  Cincinnati. 
The  next  day  he  came  out  on  the  street  and  publicly 


154  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

professed  his  entire  belief  in  the  doctrine  of  universal 
salvation,  and  said  he  was  now  perfectly  happy,  and  not 
only  resigned  to  die,  but  anxious  to  take  his  departure 
He  commenced  drinking  harder  than  before,  and  seemed 
to  throw  off  all  moral  restraint;  the  reins  of  self-govern- 
ment were  thrown  upon  the  neck  of  his  lusts,  and,  with 
broken  bit  and  shattered  reins,  he  drove  onward  to  the 
fearful  precipice  over  which  at  last  he  made  an  awful 
leap !  If  increased  wickedness  was  a  proof  of  a  change 
of  heart,  then  was  this  man  soundly  converted  by  the 
teachings  of  this  Universalist  preacher. 

One  day,  while  standing  near  the  old  market-house, 
I  saw  the  Captain  come  out,  according  to  a  previous 
promise,  to  give  publicity  to  his  new  creed.  About  a 
half  dozen  old  loafers  were  assembled  as  his  auditors.  A 
number  of  citizens  were  looking  on  as  spectators.  He 
denounced  all  the  orthodox  Churches  with  a  vengeance 
that  even  surprised  his  besotted  congregation.  Just  be- 
fore he  closed  his  remarks  one  of  his  auditors,  who  was  a 
confirmed  drunkard,  but  well  versed  in  the  truths  of  rev- 
elation, became  much  excited,  rose  up  from  his  seat 
and  walked  up  in  front  of  where  Captain  M.  was  standing 
on  one  of  the  butcher's  blocks.  He  continued  to  listen 
with  profound  attention  till  he  could  not  endure  it  any 
longer,  and,  looking  the  preacher  full  in  the  face,  cried 

out:  "Sir,  you  know  very  well  that  is  a lie  I"     This 

brought  the  speaker  to  a  pause  almost  instantly,  and  he 
made  an  attempt  to  kick  poor  old  Mr.  J.  in  the  face,  but 
missed  his  aim,  lost  his  balance,  and,  being  a  little 
"  light-headed/'  he  fell  prostrate  upon  the  hard,  brick 
pavement.  On  beholding  this  catastrophe  his  excited 
audience  raised  the  shout  of  victory,  and  left  the  new 
convert  alone  in  his  "fallen  state."  Thus  ended  the  first 
Universalist  sermon  that  I  ever  heard  delivered.  The 
Captain,  however,  was  not  seriously  injured  by  his  sudden 


THE    SUICIDE.  155 

"downfall/'  and  as  soon  as  he  was  sufficiently  revived 
went  into  his  house,  and  did  not  appear  on  the  street  till 
the  next  day.  The  citizens  generally  enjoyed  the  farce, 
not  dreaming  of  the  melancholy  sequel. 

Not  long  after  this  occurrence  this  poor,  deluded  man 
committed  suicide  under  the  following  painful  circum- 
stances :  He  had  often  said  he  was  too  miserable  to  live, 
and  now  that  he  had  been  recently  convinced  that  there 
was  no  hell,  he  wished  he  could  die;  but  none  supposed 
he  was  preparing  to  take  his  own  life.  He  was  seen  late 
m  the  evening  loading  a  large  horse-pistol  with  heavy 
slugs.  He  was  asked  what  he  was  going  to  kill?  He 
replied  that  his  warehouse  was  infested  with  rats,  and 
he  wished  to  shoot  some  of  them.  The  next  morning  he 
walked  out  to  the  steamboat  landing,  and,  as  he  returned 
to  his  house,  a  friend  asked  me  if  I  had  noticed  the 
countenance  of  Captain  M.  as  he  passed  me  on  the  side- 
walk? I  replied  that  I  did  not.  "I  fear,"  said  my 
voung  friend,  Mr.  T.,  "he  is  going  to  do  some  mischief 
to-day;  he  has  such  a  wicked  and  vicious  expression  of 
countenance  "  I  replied,  "I  hope  not;  yet  of  late  he  is 
like  one  '  walking  through  dry  places  seeking  rest,  and 
finding  none.'  "  I  went  into  a  store  about  twenty  yards 
from  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  M.,  and,  in  about  five  minutes 
afterward,  we  heard  the  report  of  a  pistol.  I  walked  to 
the  door,  and  heard  some  one  screaming,  "0,  my  God ! 
he  has  shot  himself!"  The  sound  proceeded  from  the 
residence  of  Captain  M.,  whence  I  immediately  ran  and 
found  the  unfortunate  man  lying  dead  upon  the  floor  of 
the  front  room  over  the  parlor.  He  had  taken  his  posi- 
tion before  a  mirror,  and  placed  the  large  pistol,  loaded 
with  slugs,  to  the  front  part  of  his  forehead  and  fired,  the 
contents  of  the  weapon  taking  off  nearly  half  of  his  head. 
The  slugs  penetrated  the  ceiling,  scattering  his  brains  in 
every  direction,  and  passing  out  through  the  roof  of  the 


156  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

house.  His  little  daughter  had  run  up  first,  and  was  so 
affrighted  that  she  instantly  fled  from  the  room,  which 
was  still  filled  with  smoke,  tracking  the  blood  of  her 
unfortunate  father  down  to  the  sitting-room.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  keeper  of  a  coffee-house  entered  the  room, 
who  had  contributed  his  full  share  to  ruin  the  man  now 
before  him.  He  turned  round  and  addressed  me  as  fol- 
lows: "There,  Mr.  Gr.,  lies  a  man  whose  death  will  not  be 
regretted  by  a  solitary  individual  in  this  town  or  the 
vicinity,  and  if  I  were  lying  by  his  side  the  same  state- 
ment would  be  true  of  me  V  When  the  smoke  had  left 
the  room,  we  observed  his  cravat  and  hat  lying  on  the 
bed,  and  discovered  that  before  using  the  horse-pistol  he 
had  stabbed  himself  with  a  large  dirk-knife  in  the  right 
abdomen. 

Poor,   misguided,   erring   man,  who  in   a  moment  of 
frenzy 

"  Kenounced  earth  to  forfeit  heaven !" 

thy  ghastly  corpse,   heart-stricken  wife,   and    fatherless 

children  still  rise  up  before  me ! 

Sinner,  beware!   trifle   not  with   thy  immortal   spirit  I 

Why  will  ye  die  ? 

"Why  should  we  die? 
Hope  whispers  with  her  lucid  eye. 
Aud  brighter  far  thau  hope  there  comes 
One  bright'ning  all  the  darksome  tombs- 
One  who  has  trod  the  vale  of  death 
And  lost  amidst  its  gloom  his  breath ! 
He,  angel  of  the  covenant  now, 
With  crowns  of  glory  on  his  brow, 
With  mercy  kindling  in  his  eye, 
Says  sweetly,  '  Sinner,  do  not  die  f  n 


WEST    UNION    CIRCUIT.  157 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

WEST     UNION     CIRCUIT. 

On  a  beautiful  Sabbath  morning,  soon  after  the  com- 
mencement of  public  worship  in  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  in  the  town  of  B,.,  I  discovered  an  aged 
man  approaching  the  door  of  the  church  in  great  haste. 
He  was  bareheaded  and  in  his  shirt-sleeves.  He  en- 
tered and  passed  down  the  main  aisle  of  the  church, 
stopped  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  looked  wildly  round 
on  the  congregation.  At  length  his  eyes  rested  on  my 
brother  John,  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted.  He 
approached  him  and  took  a  seat  close  by  his  side,  and 
whispered  something  to  my  brother,  as  though  he  did 
not  wish  to  disturb  the  congregation.  However,  during 
the  sermon,  my  brother  found  it  difficult  to  keep  the  old 
man  quiet.  He  held  an  old  family  Bible  by  one  end, 
and  now  and  then  he  would  raise  it  perpendicularly 
above  his  whitened  head  and  weep  most  bitterly.  His 
name  was  J.  B.  I  had  known  him  for  many  years: 
he  had  been  a  hard  drinker,  and  at  times  very  abusive 
to  his  wife.  When  brother  W.  had  closed  his  sermon, 
my  brother  arose  and  remarked  that  the  old  gentleman 
informed  him  that  something  of  a  very  remarkable 
nature  had  occurred  recently  at  his  house,  and  that  he 
wished  to  relate  it  to  the  congregation,  and  closed  by 
saying  that  he  thought  it  could  do  no  harm  to  let 
him  give  the  narrative.  The  preacher  cordially  as- 
sented, and  old  Mr.  B.  proceeded  to  remark,  in  sub- 
stance, as  follows:  "I  am  not  intoxicated  at  this  time, 
I  have  not  drank  any  for  several  days.  I  came  in  here 
this  morning  to  tell  you  what  has  lately  happened  to 
me.     On  last  Thursday  night,  about  the   hour  of  mid- 


158  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

niglit;  I  heard  a  loud  rap  on  my  window  near  the  head 
of  my  bed;  I  inquired  who  was  there,  and  some  one 
responded,  l  The  devil.'  I  could  see  him  plainly  through 
the  window.  I  then  asked  him  what  he  wanted,  and 
he  replied,  (I  have  come  for  J.  B.'  I  slept  none  the 
balance  of  the  night,  and  felt  miserable  during  all  day 
Friday.  On  Friday  night  I  fell  asleep,  and  about  the 
same  hour  I  was  again  aroused  by  the  devil;  I  jumped 
out  of  my  bed,  and  found  that  he  had  opened  the  win- 
dow and  was  about  to  come  in.  I  seized  my  old  Bible 
and  fought  him  at  the  window  till  the  light  of  the 
morning.  Last  night,  soon  after  I  retired  I  heard  three 
loud  raps  on  the  head-board  of  my  bed.  I  arose  quickly, 
and  found  the  devil  standing  about  the  middle  of  the 
floor.  He  appeared  about  three  feet  high,  with  broad 
shoulders,  and  a  horribly-disfigured  countenance,  with 
keen,  flashing  eyeballs.  I  asked  him  what  he  was 
doing  there;  he  replied,  'I  have  come  for  the  last  time 
for  Mr.  J.  B.,  and  I  am  determined  to  take  him,  sir, 
soul  and  body,  to  hell  before  the  light  of  the  morning ' 
I  replied,  'I  will  go  to  God,  but  not  with  the  devil. 
He  then  came  toward  me,  and  I  seized  my  old  Bible  and 
punched  him  in  the  face  till  broad  daylight  in  the 
morning.  I  tell  you  nothing  but  the  truth,  and  I  can  re- 
fer you  to  old  Mr.  ,  who  was  staying  at  our  house, 

for  the  truth  of  what  I  now  tell  you." 

During  this  strange  recital  the  old  man  at  times  was 
greatly  agitated.  He  held  the  Bible  tightly  clinched 
with  both  hands,  and  occasionally  lifted  it  high  over  his 
head.  This  rendered  the  whole  affair  one  of  interest  to 
all  who  beheld  him.  He  lived  near  the  bank  of  Red 
Oak  Creek,  not  far  from  a  large  mound,  in  a  two-story 
frame  house.  He  was  cruel  to  his  wife,  and  a  short 
time  before  this  frightful  attack  of  delirium  tremens  she 
had  been  compelled  to  seek  shelter  among  her  acquaint- 


WEST    UNION    CIRCUIT.  159 

ance.  He  did  not  recover  from  the  attack  for  more  than 
two  weeks,  during  which  time  he  kept  the  Bible  con- 
stantly by  his  side  when  at  home,  and  when  he  walked 
out  in  town  he  carried  it  under  his  arm,  and  at  night 
slept  with  it  under  his  pillow. 

The  close  of  my  first  year  in  the  itinerancy  will  never 
be  forgotten.  31  y  first  colleague,  Rev.  John  A.  Baugh- 
man,  was  an  indefatigable  and  popular  Methodist  trav- 
eling preacher.  In  addition  to  the  regular  quarterly 
meetings  he  often  appointed  two  and  three  days'  meet- 
ings at  extreme  points  on  the  circuit.  He  could  not 
be  satisfied  to  close  up  the  labors  of  his  second  confer- 
ence year  without  another  camp  meeting.  This  meeting 
was  numerously  attended,  and  resulted  in  the  conversion 
of  many  precious  souls.  Father  Collins,  who  was  then 
the  presiding  elder  of  the  district,  was  present,  and 
assisted  in  the  direction  and  management  of  the  exer- 
cises with  his  usual  tact  and  superior  ability.  On  the 
last  night  of  the  meeting  I  was  appointed  to  preach  at 
seven  o'clock;  but  at  the  time  of  sounding  the  trumpet 
for  preaching  the  prayer  meeting  was  still  in  progress, 
which  had  begun  immediately  after  the  close  of  the 
afternoon  sermon.  The  lamps  were  all  lighted  and  the 
wood-fires  burning  brightly.  The  altar  was  filled  with 
weeping  penitents;  and  when  the  time  arrived  for  preach- 
ing, the  battle-cry  was  so  loud  the  sound  of  the  trumpet 
was  not  heard  by  those  engaged  in  the  prayer  meeting. 
It  was  finally  agreed  not  to  interrupt  the  altar  exercises, 
but  to  let  God  work  in  his  own  way.  The  meeting 
progressed  with  power  and  great  glory.  Sinners  by 
scores  "fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before 
them."  The  exercises,  without  the  slightest  degree  of 
abatement,  continued  till  eleven  o'clock.  At  this  stage 
of  the  meeting  Rev.  W.  T.  H.,  who  was  then  traveling 
on   White  Oak   circuit,   drew  off   the    crowd    from    the 


160  FOOT -PRINTS     OF     AN     ITINERANT. 

altar  by  the  following  novel  method:  At  the  far  end 
of  the  middle  aisle,  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  he  assembled 
the  "ancient  men,"  and  the  young  men,  and  the  chief 
singers,  and  the  sons  of  the  singers.  He  also  appointed 
a  trumpeter,  and  when  the  signal  was  given  the  whole 
" company  of  believers''  moved  in  a  procession  of  three 
abreast  around  the  encampment,  inside  of  the  circle  of 
tents,  singing  as  they  marched, 

"  Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  blow, 

The  gladly-solemn  sound, 
Let  all  the  nations  know, 

To  earth's  remotest  bound, 
The  year  of  jubilee  is  come; 

Return  ye  ransomed  sinners  home." 

Such  a  scene  had  never  been  witnessed  in  that  region 
of  country  before.  The  wicked  were  overawed,  and  re- 
treated from  the  outskirts  to  the  center  of  the  ground. 
Father  Collins  and  myself  repaired  to  the  preachers' 
stand  to  witness  the  solemn  procession  and  to  watch 
the  movements  of  the  enemy.  After  the  army  of 
Israel  had  "  compassed  the  encampment,  in  going  about 
it  once,"  they  halted  for  a  few  minutes  to  the  left  of 
the  preachers'  stand,  and  sounded  the  trumpet  and  gave 
thanks,  and  then  all  with  one  accord  cried,  "  The  sword 
of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon!"  and  then  they  resumed 
their  triumphal  march,  blowing  the  trumpet  at  each 
succeeding  revolution  till  they  had  encompassed  the 
encampment  of  our  Israel  six  times.  Rev.  W.  T.  H. 
then  arose  and  addressed  them  in  a  most  powerful 
manner  for  a  short  time,  and  to  my  great  surprise  closed 
by  stating,  that  after  marching  the  seventh  time  around 
the  camp  they  would  halt  opposite  the  stand  at  the 
sound  of  the  trumpet;  and  as  brother  Gaddis  was  pre- 
vented from  preaching  in  the  evening  at  the  appointed 
hour,  he  would  now  preach  a  short  sermon  to  the  whole 


WEST    UNION    CIRCUIT.  161 

congregation,  commencing  precisely  at  the  solemn  hour 
of  midnight.  On  hearing  this  "unexpected  announce- 
ment" I  repaired  to  the  preachers'  tent,  and  fell  upon 
my  face  and  cried  to  G-od  for  help  in  this  the  hour  of 
need.  As  it  was  to  be  my  farewell  sermon,  I  selected 
for  my  text  the  following  appropriate  words :  "  Casting 
all  your  care  upon  him,  for  he  careth  for  you."  The 
scene  before  me  was  grand  and  imposing.  The  whole 
congregation  were  standing  on  their  feet,  and  many  al- 
ready bathed  in  tears.  At  first  my  voice  faltered,  but 
I  then  heard  the  well-known  voice  of  the  venerable 
Collins  behind  me  in  the  pulpit,  saying,  "Be  not  afraid 
of  their  faces,  for  the  Lord  hath  given  you  the  city." 
It  gave  me  great  encouragement;  I  had  not  spoken  long 
before  I  rose  far  above  all  my  embarrassment  and  ex- 
perienced the  truth  of  the  declaration  of  the  prophet 
Nehemiah,  "The  joy  of  the  Lord  is  your  strength."  I 
was  filled  with  the  spirit  of  rejoicing  while  dwelling  on 
the  encouraging  promise,  "  He  careth  for  you."  I  con- 
tinued to  preach  till  my  voice  could  be  heard  no  longer, 
for  the  cries  of  the  "wounded"  and  the  shouts  of  the 
"redeemed."  That  was  a  night  of  "great  gladness, 
for  God  made  them  rejoice  with  great  joy,  their  wives 
also,  and  their  children  rejoiced,  so  that  the  joy  of 
Jerusalem  was  heard  even  afar  off."  The  battle  waxed 
hot  the  remainder  of  the  night.  More  than  fifty  souls 
found  peace  in  believing  before  the  sun  arose  on  our 
tents  in  the  wilderness. 

After  breakfast,  at  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  we  all 
assembled  at  the  stand  to  hear  a  parting  address  from 
my  indefatigable  colleague,  at  the  close  of  which  he 
opened  the  doors  of  the  Church,  and  about  forty  made 
application  for  membership,  most  of  whom  had  been 
awakened  and  converted  the  night  previous. 

We  loved  the  people  on  that  circuit,  and  I  believe  it 
14 


162  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

was  fully  reciprocated  on  their  part.  At  the  close  of 
the  meeting  we  were  requested  to  come  out  in  front 
of  the  "  stand,"  that  the  members  of  the  Church  might 
have  the  privilege  of  shaking  hands  with  us  before  we 
parted  to  meet  no  more.  "We  did  so,  and  I  suppose  I 
shook  hands  with  upward  of  a  hundred  persons.  I  could 
not  endure  it  any  longer;  my  hand  and  arm  were  both 
sore,  and  I  requested  publicly  to  be  excused,  and  told 
the  audience,  as  my  colleague  was  very  stout  and  hearty 
he  must  do  my  part  and  his  own  too,  to  which  he  cor- 
dially assented.  I  retired  with  a  full  heart,  amid  the 
flowing  tears  and  warm  benedictions,  while  they  sung  that 
well-known  parting  hymn  commencing, 

"My  dearest  friends  in  bonds  of  love, 
Whose  hearts  the  sweetest  union  prove." 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

SCIOTO    CIRCUIT. 

In  the  fall  of  1807  Rev.  John  Collins  was  appointed 
preacher  in  charge  of  the  Scioto  circuit.  Early  in 
that  conference  year  he  organized  a  small  class  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Peter  Shultz,  in  the  town  of  West  Union, 
and  appointed  William  Russel  leader.  At  a  quarterly 
meeting  held  at  Benjamin  Turner's  residence,  on  Scioto 
circuit,  July  16,  1808,  there  were  seventeen  class-leaders 
present,  among  whom  is  recorded  on  the  "  Steward's 
book"  the  name  of  William  Russel.  This  devoted  friend 
of  Methodism  settled  in  West  Union,  and  opened  a  dry 
goods  store,  June  19,  1807.  William  Armstrong  moved 
from  Maysville  and  settled  at  West  Union,  May  21, 1806. 
He  was  also  a  good  man,  and  loved  our  Zion  most  fer- 
vently till  called  away  by  the  hand  of  death.     Brother 


SCIOTO    CIRCUIT.  163 

Russel  represented  the  society  at  the  quarterly  meeting 
at  Benjamin  Turner's  dwelling,  August  11,  1809.  In 
August,  1810,  at  a  quarterly  meeting  held  at  George  Suit- 
er's residence,  the  names  of  seventeen  preaching-places 
are  entered  on  the  Stewards'  hook  for  Scioto  circuit,  and 
the  several  amounts  paid  by  each  society.  At  that  period 
the  class  at  West  Union  is  credited  with  $3.50  quarter- 
age. The  total  amount  of  quarterage  and  public  collec- 
tions on  the  circuit  that  year  only  amounted  to  889.68, 
of  which  the  presiding  elder,  Rev.  John  Sale,  received 
84;  Rev.  Alexander  Cummins,  846.50;  and  his  col- 
league, Rev.  Robert  Dobbins,  836.57.  In  1811  the  so- 
ciety at  West  Union  is  credited  with  86,  and  in  the 
year  1812  they  contributed  87.  In  1815  Rev.  Green- 
bury  R.  Jones  was  appointed  Recording  Steward.  West 
Union  in  1816  paid  822  quarterage.  Brush  Creek 
circuit  was  organized  in  1811.  In  1817,  while  John  Col- 
lins was  presiding  elder,  and  Charles  Waddle,  preacher  in 
charge,  it  was  determined  by  official  action  on  the  part 
of  the  quarterly  meeting  conference  to  locate  the  parson- 
age house  in  the  town  of  West  Union,  and  an  average 
tax  of  fifty  cents  to  each  member  be  levied  on  all  the 
societies  in  the  circuit  to  procure  a  lot  and  erect  the 
^building.  In  August  15,  1819,  Rev.  Leroy  Swormstedt, 
then  preacher  in  charge  of  Brush  Creek  circuit,  ap- 
pointed the  following  persons  as  trustees  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church  in  West  Union :  William  Russel, 
Peter  Shultz,  John  Meek,  and  G.  R.  Jones.  To  these 
the  name  of  A.  Hollingsworth  was  soon  added.  A  beau- 
tiful lot  was  purchased  of  the  late  William  Armstrong  for 
the  sum  of  850,  on  which  a  plain,  substantial  church 
edifice  was  erected  the  ensuing  year.  It  is  thirty-five 
feet  wide  and  forty-five  long.  The  property  was  secured 
by  deed  from  William  Armstrong  under  date  of  Septem- 
ber 30,  1819.     During  the  administration  of  Rev.  Leroy 


164  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

Sworrnstedt,  the  finances  of  Brush  Creek  circuit  were  in 
a  healthy  state.  At  the  close  of  his  administration,  after 
paying  off  all  the  claims,  the  stewards  sent  a  surplus 
to  the  annual  conference  of  $38.18. 

The  society  at  West  Union  from  a  very  early  period 
contributed  more  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  than  any 
other  society  on  Brush  Creek  circuit.  It  was  at  one  time 
composed  of  a  number  of  talented  and  liberal-hearted 
men,  most  of  whom  have  gone  to  reap  the  reward  of 
well-doing  in  a  better  state  of  existence.  Abraham  Hol- 
lingsworth,  Esq.,  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  old  board 
of  trustees.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  1819,  is  now  in  his  seventy-fourth  year,  and  is 
a  man  of  great  moral  worth  and  much  beloved  for  his  ad- 
herence to  the  "old  paths."  He  was  elected  Recording 
Steward  in  1827,  and  continued  to  serve  the  Church  in 
that  capacity  till  1852,  a  period  of  twenty-five  years.  He 
now  enjoys  a  green  old  age,  longing  for  the  rest  to  come. 

SCIOTO  AND  BRUSH  CREEK  CIRCUIT  RECORDS. 
In  one  of  my  rambles  I  found  the  first  Stewards'  book 
of  the  original  Scioto  circuit.     I  will  make  a  few  extracts 
from  that  ancient  record  : 

THE 

BOOK    OF    RECORDS 

FOR  SCIOTO  CIRCUIT. 

CHAPTER    I. 

September  7,  ISO-*. 

Section  1. — Quarterly  meeting  began,  and  was  held  at 
White  Brown's  residence  on  Deer  creek,  William  Burke, 
presiding  elder;  Joseph  Oglesby  and  John  Meek,  travel- 
ing preachers.  Conference  being  called,  the  members 
thereof  passed  the  following  resolutions,  namely: 

(1.)  That  John  Shields  shall  be  Secretary  for  Scioto 
circuit. 


SCIOTO    CIRCUIT. 


165 


(2.)  That  he  shall  purchase  a  book  and  keep  the 
records  for  said  circuit. 

(3.)  That  all  the  local  preachers,  exhorters,  leaders, 
?nd  stewards  shall  have  their  names  enrolled  in  the  book 
of  records. 

(4.)  That  William  Tolbert,  of  the  Big  Bottom,  below 
Pee  Pee,  has  forfeited  his  license  by  neglecting  class  meet- 
ing, and  not  having  his  name  enrolled  on  any  class-paper. 

William  Burke,  P.  E. 
John  Shields,  R.  S. 

Stephen  Timmons,  )  ^j , 
Thomas  Scott,      '  \md^ 
Edward  Tiffin, 


Thomas  Odle, 


Dt 


Leaders. 


Wm.  Jackson, 

Anthony  Davenport, 

Thomas  Wood, 

John  Connell, 

Geo.  Vincenhellor, 

White  Brown, 

Henry  Bowdle, 

Charles  Mahan, 

Michael  Harr, 

Morgan  Williams, 

Benjamin  Grace, 

John  Crewit, 

Simon  Field, 

William  Wykoff, 

John  Perrell, 
John  Shields, 
Ewd.  Harr, 
Alexander  Roen, 
William  Karen, 

Thomas  Curry,  \  Preachers. 

George  Rogers, 
Joseph  Moore, 
Lewis  Foster, 
Jesse  Mounts, 

Section  2. — (1.)  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to 
draw  up  a  subscription  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  land 


166  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

to  build  a  house  and  make  improvements  thereon,  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  traveling  preachers,  and  the  use 
of  Scioto  circuit,  according  to  Discipline,  chap,  i,  sec.  26. 

(2.)  That  White  Brown,  William  Karen,  Lewis  Foster, 
and  John  Shields  compose  said  committee. 

Jno.  Shields,  Secretary.  Wm.  Burke,  P.  E. 

Section  3. — That  the  stewards  of  each  circuit  shah 
send  to  each  leader  within  the  bounds  of  his  district; 
on  each  quarter,  an  account  of  the  state  of  the  finances 
of  the  last  quarter,  and  once  each  year  to  send  a  cir- 
cular letter,  stating  the  amount  given  by  each  class 
during  the  previous  year,  and  also  the  number  of  per- 
sons in  each  class.  William  Burke,  P.  E. 

John  Shields,  Secretary. 

Section   4. — The    Committee    on    Subscriptions   pre- 
sented the  following  paper,  which  was  read  before  the 
conference,  and  adopted : 
To  all  whom  these  presents  shall  come  greeting  : 

Whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  Scioto  circuit  have  la- 
bored under  considerable  inconvenience  in  not  having 
a  sufficient  and  regular  supply  of  itinerant  preachers ; 
and,  whereas,  it  is  thought,  by  many,  that  purchasing 
a  lot  of  land,  and  building  a  house  thereon,  for  the 
accommodation  of  itinerant  preachers  who  may  have 
wives  and  children,  would,  under  the  blessing,  remedy 
the  evil :  we  have  thought  it  necessary,  after  mature 
deliberation,  to  recommend  to  our  friends  to  lend  their 
aid  in  this  noble  cause,  according  to  the  ability  which 
God  hath  given.  [Here  follows  the  names  of  the  trus- 
tees, etc.]  Signed,         William  Burke,  P.  E. 

John  Shields,  Secretary. 

CHAPTER    II. 

Quarterly  meeting  conference  held  at  Thomas  Bowdle's, 
August  2,  1805. 

Preachers   present,   William    Burke,    P.    E.;    Thomas 


SCIOTO    CIRCUIT.  167 

Scott  and  Stephen  Timmons,  elders :  Edward  Tiffin, 
Thomas  Odel,  William  Jackson,  William  Tolbert,  dea- 
cons. 

At  this  meeting  but  little  business  of  importance  was 
transacted. 

CHAPTER    III. 

At  a  quarterly  meeting  held  at  Twin  creek,  on  Scioto 
circuit,  on  the  first  Saturday  and  Sunday  in  May,  1806; 
present,  John  Sale,  P.  E. ;  James  Quinn,  Peter  Cart- 
wright,  William  Karens,  Alexander  Rowen,  Geo.  Vincen- 
hellor,  Benjamin  Adair,  Michael  Hare,  White  Brown, 
Stephen  Timmons,  Charles  Mahan,  George  M'Cormick, 
James  English,  John  Martin,  Elias  Turner,  and  Hector 
Sandford. 

Edward  Tiffin  was  appointed  Secretary. 

The  next  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  White  Brown's 
August  15,  1806.  A  considerable  amount  of  business 
was  transacted  at  this  conference.  Hector  Sandford  and 
Joseph  Bennett  were  recommended  to  the  district  con- 
ference as  traveling  preachers. 

The  next  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Salem  meet- 
ing-house, 23d  of  November,  1806. 

The  following  list  of  the  first  preaching-places,  and 
the  amounts  collected  at  each,  will,  no  doubt,  be  read 
with  interest  by  all : 

Preaching-places.  Amount.    Preaching-places.  Amount 

Moore's  class $2  50      Davis's $1  75 

Worley's 2  00      Bunell's 100 

P.Moore's 0  00  i  D.  Fraley's 0  00 

W.  Mustard's 0  00  j  A.  Trimble's 0  00 

;nt*s 0  00  !  Fitchpatrick's 1  48 


Thomas  Foster's 7  25      Sullivan's 0  00 

C.  L.  Browns 0  00  I  Butcher's 1  68 

Twin  creek 4  00  j  John  Kindal's 0  00 

Chillicothe 10  50  ,  James  Kindal's 0  00 

Bowdle's 6  62     Wood's 0  00 

Chinaworth's 0  00  j  Odel's 4  78 

William   Brown's 0  00  !  Briant's 1  00 

Lucas's 1  00  I  Peterson's 2  00 


Golsberry's 0  00 


168  FOOT-PRINTS     OF     AN     ITINERANT. 

After  defraying  contingent  expenses,  Rev.  Anthony 
Houston,  circuit  preacher,  received  614.87,  and  Rev. 
Milton  Ladd,  assistant,  618.38,  and  Rev.  John  Sale, 
presiding  elder,  received  66.  How  small  when  contrasted 
with  the  present ! 

The  next  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Salem  meet- 
ing-house, January  23,  1808.  Twenty-one  classes  were 
represented,  and  Rev.  John  Collins,  preacher  in  charge, 
received  631.37  salary,  and  Joseph  Bennett  616.40,  and 
Rev.  John  Sale,  presiding  elder,  63.35. 

The  ensuing  quarterly  meeting,  for  1808,  was  held  at 
Benjamin  Turner's,  July  16,  1808.  There  were  present 
at  that  meeting  sixteen  preachers,  six  exhorters,  eighteen 
class-leaders,  two  stewards,  and  John  Shields,  Recorder 
and  general  Steward;  also,  John  Foster,  Edward  Karen, 
George  Vincenhellor,  and  Elijah  Truitt  licensed  to 
preach  on  trial  for  one  year. 

August  11,  1809. — At  Benjamin  Turner's,  Robert  W. 
Finley  and  James  B.  Finley  were  recommended  as  travel- 
ing preachers.  Rev.  Abbott  Goddard,  circuit  preacher, 
received,  for  his  services  on  the  circuit,  the  sum  of 
656. 12£,  and  his  colleague,  Rev.  Joseph  ^Villiams,  the 
same  amount  for  one  year's  hard  toil. 

May  19,  1810. — Quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Thomas 
Foster's;  John  Sale,  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  Alexander 
Cummins  and  Robert  Dobbins,  circuit  preachers. 

August  25,  1810,  it  was  held  at  George  Suiter's,  and 
the  next  was  held  at  Joseph  Moore's,  December  15, 
1810.  The  total  amount  of  quarterage  sent  to  this 
meeting  was  only  66.80,  to  be  divided  between  the 
presiding  elder,  Solomon  Langdon,  and  the  two  circuit 
preachers,  Timmons  and  Fraley.  These  were  the  days 
of  trial. 

Brush  Creek  circuit  was  organized  in  1811.  The  first 
quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Joseph  Moore's,  February 


8CI0T0    CIRCUIT.  169 

22,    1811 — William    Kearn    and   Daniel   Fraley,    circuit 
preachers. 

Second  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Zepheniah 
Waid's,  May  8,  1811;  the  third  quarterly  meeting  at 
Eagle  creek  camp -ground,  August  8;  the  fourth  at 
Brush  creek  meeting-house,  September  9,  1811,  at  which 
meeting  Kobert  W.  Finley  was  recommended  to  the 
annual  conference,  William  P.  Finley  licensed  to  preach, 
and  Rev.  William  Kearn  recommended  to  the  annual 
conference.  The  total  amount  collected  for  the  support 
of  two  preachers  and  the  elder  did  not  exceed  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  dollars. 

At  Alexander  Mehaffy's  on  Eagle  creek,  in  Brown 
county,  about  twelve  miles  east  of  Ripley,  a  quarterly 
meeting  was  held  September  12,  1812;  Solomon  Lang- 
don,  presiding  elder;  Isaac  Pavey,  circuit  preacher. 
Among  the  class-leaders  present,  I  find  the  name  of 
Henry  B.  Bascom,  late  Bishop  Bascom.  His  name  is 
first  entered  on  the  Scioto  circuit  book  of  records  as 
class-leader,  September  12,  1812 ;  and  in  May  29,  1813, 
it  appears  again  among  the  leaders,  at  which  time  the 
society  at  Fitch's,  on  Eagle  creek,  through  him,  is 
credited  with  $4.50  quarterage.  And  at  a  quarterly 
meeting  at  Philip  Moore's,  May  29,  1813 — James  Quinn, 
presiding  elder,  and  Robert  W.  Finley,  circuit  preacher — 
Henry  B.  Bascom  was  elected  and  licensed  to  preach  the 
Gospel. 

At  the  Eagle  creek  camp-ground,  August  9,  1813,  at 
the  last  quarterly  meeting,  I  find  the  following  unique 
record: 

'•Henry  B.  Bascom  recommended  to  annual  conference 
for  a  circuit  to  travel  and  preach ;  obtained  it. 

"Signed,  Rob't.  W.  Finley,  Pres.  pro  tern." 

At  this  meeting,  brother  Bascom  received  $16.43  quai- 
terage  for  his  services  on  the  circuit  as  assistant. 

15 


170  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

In  1815  and  1816  the  number  of  societies  had  in- 
creased to  thirty,  and  the  names  of  fifteen  local  preachers 
are  recorded  on  the  "official  list"  as  residents  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Brush  Creek  circuit,  among  whom  are 
found  the  names  of  Greenbury  R.  Jones,  John  Meek, 
William  Page,  Robert  Dobins,  Christopher  Wanisley. 

In  1823  Rev.  H.  B.  Bascom  was  preacher  in  charge 
of  Brush  Creek  circuit,  and  received  seventy-one  dollar  $ 
and  ninety-eight  cents  quarterage. 

At  the  close  of  this  year  a  camp  meeting  was  held  at 
Jacob  Turner's,  near  the  Chillicothe  road.  Rev.  William 
M'Kendree,  senior  bishop,  was  present  at  that  time,  and 
preached. 

In  1831  Brush  Creek  circuit  had  increased  to  forty- 
one  classes,  and  sustained  three  preachers ;  namely,  Rev. 
G.  W.  Walker,  Rev.  Henry  E.  Pilcher,  Rev.  A.  D.  Beas- 
ley;  Augustus  Eddy,  presiding  elder.  Total  amount  of 
collections  from  all  the  classes  and  "  public  collections," 
§561.87. 

In  the  fall  of  1832  the  annual  conference  changed 
the  name  of  the  old  Brush  Creek  circuit  to  that  of  West 
Union,  and  appointed  Rev.  Henry  Turner  and  George  C. 
Crum  circuit  preachers. 

On  the  13th  day  of  December,  1835,  I  commenced 
traveling  West  Union  circuit,  under  the  direction  of  the 
elder,  Rev.  Leroy  Swormstedt.  I  preached  once  every 
four  weeks  at  the  following  places  :  Ripley,  Fitch's,  Ab- 
erdeen, Pownell's,  Ebenezer  Copple's  school-house,  Deca- 
tur, Hopewell  Moore's  meeting-house,  John  Connell's, 
West  Union,   Freeland's,   Satterfield's,   Naylor's,   Dreen- 

non's,   Beasley's   Fork,   Manchester,  's,   Melvin's, 

,   Matheny's  school-house,  "Grimes's  Well," 

Eckman's,  Watson's,  Pennywait's.  At  the  last  quarterly 
meeting  held  at  Richard  Noleman's,  near  the  camp- 
ground, I  was  recommended   as  a  suitable  person  to  be 


SCIOTO    CIRCUIT.  171 

admitted  into  the  traveling  connection.  The  late  Rev. 
John  Collins  was  then  acting  as  presiding  elder.  My 
salary,  for  services  rendered,  was  §87. 

In  18-48  "West  Union  circuit  was  again  divided,  and 
the  south-western  part  is  now  called  Aberdeen. 

In  the  year  1827,  when  Rev.  Russel  Bigelow  was  pre- 
siding elder,  and  Rev.  Wesley  Browning  and  Rev.  Absa- 
lom D.  Fox  circuit  preachers,  there  were  sixty  official 
members  on  the  old  Brush  Creek  circuit,  among  whom 
were  many  men  of  talents  both  in  the  local  ranks  and 
laity.  Rev.  Gr.  R.  Jones  was  Recording  Steward  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  and  his  nephew,  Rev.  Z.  Connell,  were 
recommended  from  that  circuit  to  the  annual  conference 
in  1818.  The  late  Hon.  William  Russell,  who,  for  many 
years,  resided  at  West  Union,  was  for  a  long  time  an 
official  member  of  the  circuit.  The  late  William  Arm- 
strong served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Stewards  for 
a  long  time  previous  to  his  removal  to  Cincinnati,  in  the 
summer  of  1826.  How  many  interesting  reminiscences 
are  awakened  in  regard  to  the  past  history  of  the  Church 
and  many  of  its  valued  members,  by  the  brief  outline  I 
have  here  sketched,  and  how  full  of  instruction  and 
encouragement  to  all  who  take  pleasure  in  contemplating 
her  glorious  future  ! 

I  will  now  furnish  my  readers  with  a  few  extracts  from 
the  old  Scioto  circuit  records,  after  Brush  Creek  circuit 
was  organized. 

"STEWARDS'  BOOK 

"OF     THE     SCIOTO     CIRCUIT, 
"  Which  was  divided,  in  the  year  1811,  into  the  present  form." 

This  book  was  kept  by  Rev.  Thomas  Wilson,  who  was 
the  Recording  Steward  of  the  circuit.  Father  Wilson 
lived  near  the  present  town  of  Sharonville,  in  the  "Big 


179 


FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 


Bottom/'  below  Chillicothe.  He  was  long  a  pillar  in  the 
Church  of  Christ,  and  was  universally  and  eminently 
respected  for  his  evenness  of  temper  and  consistency  of 
life.  The  following  is  an  exact  transcript  of  the  first 
page  of  this  old  "  Stewards'  Book  :" 

Quarterly  meeting  held  at  Freshour's,  November  16 
and  17,  1811. 


Thomas  Foster's, 
Richard  Foster's 
Chenowith's  . . . 
Shelpman's  .... 

Mustard's 

Davis's 

Kerne's 

Johnagan's  .... 

Lucas's 

Fitchpatrick's. . , 

Hillsboro 

Drake's 

Jackson's 

Pavey's 

Hill's 

Thomas's 

Lunback's 

Garner's 


$8 

12* 

3 

50 

4 

06* 

37K 

1 

50 

65 

63 

2 

18 

4 

00 

3 

00 

3 

25 

2 

00 

25 

60 

2 

00 

$36 

17 

p-3 


53  &. 

■S  £  c  3 

■*j         H  "^ 

2  fc-fls| 

bc',3  a)  q. 
•Dp      a 

41-85 


The  second  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  Hillsboro, 
February  1st  and  2d,  1812,  at  which  the  collections 
amounted  to  $42.36  *. 

The  third  quarterly  meeting  was  held  at  Pee-Pee,  or 
Chenowith's,  about  two  miles  from  Piketon,  April  18th 
and  19th,  1812.     Amount  collected,  $64.60*. 

The  fourth  quarterly  meeting  was  held  on  Paint  creek, 
near  the  present  town  of  Bournville,  September  19th  and 
20th,  1812.     Amount  raised,  $65.03. 

In  order  to  form  some  idea  of  the  size  of  the  circuit 
traveled  by  Ralph  Lotspcich  alone,  in  the  years  1811 
and  1812,  and  the  scanty  support  which  he  received 
from  that  large  territory,  I  will  give  the  names  of  all  the 


SCIOTO    CIRCUIT 


173 


appointments,  and  the  aggregate  paid  by  each  during  the 
whole  year,  and  also  the  appropriations  made. 


Thomas  Foster's $37  25 

Richard  Foster's 12  72 

Chenowith's 18  66 

Shelprnan's 37 

Mustard's 7  18 

Davis's 3  28 

Kerne's . .  5  30 

Johnagan's 7  80 

Lucas's 8  60 

Fitchpatrick's 8  94 

Hillsboro, 16  81 

Drake's 9  80 

Jackson's 2  50 

Paver's 3  63 

Hill's 3  50 

Thomas's 0  00 

Tokeam's 0  00 

Lunback's 8  50 


Garner's 

$2  50 
2  56 

Butcher's 

Hare's 

17  60 

Graves's 

2  13 

Hughey's 

2  00 

Verdan's 

2  00 

M'Kinsey's 

4  00 

Public    collection    at   2d 

and  3d  quar.  meetings. 

7  31 

At  Hinton's    camp  meet- 

ing, August  2d 

3  33 

Big  Bottom   camp   meet- 

ing, August  16th. .... 

8  87 

Paint  creek   camp   meet- 

ing, Sept.  21st 

2  45 

Total fe 

209  59 

APPROPRIATIONS. 


Solomon  Langdon,  P.  E. 

Traveling  expenses  . . .  $00  87 

Quarterage 12  00 

Ralph  Lotspeich.     Trav- 
eling expenses 4  13 


Quarterage $189  17 

Wine 3  42 


Total $209  59 


Thus,  it  will  be  seen  that  this  large  circuit  of  twenty- 
five  appointments,  extending  from  Paint  creek  to  Sun- 
fish,  and  from  the  "Big  Bottom,"  on  the  Scioto  river,  to 
Hillsboro,  was  traveled  by  one  preacher;  and  for  his 
labors  he  received  the  paltry  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty-nine  dollars  and  seventeen  cents.  In  those  days 
there  were  no  appropriations  for  house-rent  and  table 
expenses.  There  was  not,  perhaps,  a  meeting-house  in 
all  the  circuit:  hence,  the  places  are  generally  desig- 
nated by  private  residences.  Three  camp  meetings  were 
held  during  the  year.  The  Scioto  circuit  then  embraced 
what  is  now  included  in  Sharonville,  Waverly,  Bain- 
bridge,  Sinking  Springs,  and  Highland  circuits,  and 
Hillsboro  station.     Then  one  man  cultivated  the  whole 


174  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

field,  now  it  employs  the  time  and  labors  of  ten;  then 
there  were  nine  hundred  and  eleven  members,  now  three 
thousand,  three  hundred  and  eighty-seven;  then  there 
were  no  meeting-houses,  now  they  are  multiplied.  In 
1811  the  Scioto  circuit  paid  but  about  two  hundred 
dollars  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel,  now,  in  1855,  the 
same  territory  gives,  perhaps,  not  less  than  four  thou- 
sand dollars.  Thus  the  little  one  has  become  a  thou- 
sand, and,  we  may  say,  with  emphasis,  what  has  God 
wrought !  If  Lotspeich  could  only  have  looked  forward 
forty-three  years,  to  the  present  time,  and  have  contem- 
plated the  present  condition  of  his  field,  what  a  min- 
gled feeling  of  wonder  and  delight  would  have  filled  his 
mind!  Hundreds  have  already  followed  him  from  the 
old  Scioto  circuit,  and  thousands  more  are  on  the  way. 
To  God  be  all  the  glory ! 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

WHITE     OAK     CIRCUIT. 

The  next  year  I  was  appointed  to  White  Oak  circuit, 
in  Clermont  county,  Ohio.  This  was  a  year  of  unusual 
interest  to  me.  I  had  twenty  regular  appointments  to 
fill  in  three  weeks ;  this  was  very  hard  work  for  one  as 
feeble  in  health  as  I  was  at  that  time.  The  people, 
however,  received  me  with  great  kindness,  and  the  work 
of  the  Lord  prospered.  The  Lord  gave  me  some  spir- 
itual children  at  almost  every  appointment.  I  shall 
never  forget  the  feelings  with  which  I  commenced  my 
labors  in  the  town  of  Felicity.  On  Saturday  evening, 
after  supper,  I  went  out  in  search  of  the  church;  and 
when  I  found  it,  I  went  round  to  the  rear  of  the  build- 


WHITE    OAK    CIRCUIT.  175 

ing  and  kneeled  down  with  my  face  toward  the  wall, 
opposite  the  pulpit  window,  and  there  poured  out  my 
soul  in  mighty  prayers,  with  strong  cries  and  tears.  The 
burden  of  my  cry  was  that  God  would  help  me,  every 
time  I  stood  within  those  consecrated  walls,  to  preach 
Christ  and  him  crucified  with  the  Holy  G-host  sent 
down  from  heaven.  I  did  not  leave  that  spot  till  I  felt 
that  my  prayer  was  heard,  and  that  God  would  fulfill 
his  promise,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway." 

At  one  of  my  appointments,  at  the  close  of  service, 
a  lady  came  forward  and  requested  me  to  preach  the 
funeral  sermon  of  her  husband.  I  understood  they  were 
both  members  of  our  Church.  I  immediately  consented, 
and  arose  and  informed  the  congregation  that  at  my 
next  appointment  in  that  church  I  would  preach  the 
funeral  sermon  of  brother  N.  I  observed  the  announce- 
ment produced  great  surprise  in  the  audience.  After 
the  congregation  was  dismissed  I  learned  that  Mr.  X. 
was  a  Universalist  in  sentiment,  and  had  died  without 
any  certain  hope  of  future  happiness.  This  perplexed 
me  very  much;  but  after  a  moment's  reflection  I  con- 
cluded to  meet  my  engagement,  and  trust  in  God  for 
help  and  divine  direction,  that  he  would  overrule  it  all 
for  his  glory  and  the  good  of  others.  At  the  appointed 
time  a  large  concourse  of  people  were  assembled,  many 
more  than  could  find  seats  in  the  church.  I  selected 
for  my  text  Psalm  cxlv,  20:  "The  Lord  preserveth  all 
them  that  love  him,  but  all  the  wicked  will  he  destroy." 
I  had  great  liberty  of  speech,  and  the  Lord  carried 
home  the  truth  to  many  hearts.  I  informed  them  in 
the  close  that  I  had  no  knowledge  whatever  of  the  life 
and  character  of  the  deceased;  I  had  been  told,  however, 
that  he  was  a  Universalist,  and  lived  an  immoral  life. 
It  was  not  for  me  to  pronounce  his  doom;  long  since 
his  spirit  had   passed  into  the   presence   of  the  Judge 


176  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

of  all  the  earth,  "  who  would  render  to  every  man 
according  to  his  works."  I  then  exhorted  all  present 
to  shun  his  vices  and  imitate  his  virtues;  for  only 
those  who  loved  God  could  expect  his  protection  in 
time  and  his  approving  smile  in  eternity.  I  desired 
them  to  ponder  well  the  solemn  declaration  in  my  text, 
"but  all  the  wicked  will  he  destroy/'  Blessed  be  the 
name  of  God!  although  I  "sowed  the  precious  seed" 
with  tears  on  that  solemn  occasion,  it  was  not  many 
months  till  we  were  permitted  to  "reap  in  joy."  Early 
in  the  spring  I  appointed  a  two  days'  meeting  in  that 
church,  and  on  Sabbath  at  three  o'clock  the  "Lord 
made  bare  his  holy  arm  in  the  sight  of  all  the  people." 
The  altar  was  filled  with  weeping  penitents,  and  several 
found  peace  in  believing.  I  appointed  a  meeting  on 
Monday  morning,  doubting  whether  many  would  be  able 
to  attend,  as  the  church  was  in  the  country  and  the 
farmers  busily  engaged  in  planting  corn ;  but  to  my  great 
astonishment,  the  church  was  almost  full  of  deeply- 
attentive  hearers.  Rev.  John  Miley,  then  a  student 
at  Augusta  College,  came  over  to  my  assistance,  and 
preached  during  the  whole  meeting  with  a  holy  unction, 
such  as  I  had  seldom  witnessed.  During  that  day  the 
word  of  the  Lord  spread  like  fire  in  dry  stubble,  and 
twenty  found  peace  in  believing.  The  next  day  the 
battle  waxed  much  hotter,  and  the  farmers  laid  aside 
their  work  and  brought  their  families  with  them  to  the 
house  of  God.  During  the  balance  of  that  week  we 
held  meeting  twice  every  day,  and  for  three  days  we  ate 
our  dinners  at  the  church,  because  we  could  not  find 
time  to  go  home  between  the  morning  service  and  the 
exercises  at  three  o'clock,  P.  M.  We  kept  up  the  meet- 
ing till  the  following  Monday  morning,  during  which 
time  fifty  were  soundly  converted  to  God  and  nearly 
forty  added  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.     That 


REVIVAL    IN    A    SCHOOL.  177 

was  the  first  "  protracted "  meeting  ever  held  in  that 
neighborhood.  It  was  a  time  of  "refreshing  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord"  never  to  be  forgotten.  Many 
were  awakened  and  converted,  who  shortly  afterward 
united  with  other  denominations  in  that  region  of  coun- 
try. To  God  be  all  the  glory  for  all  the  good  that  was 
wrought  by  our  hands  on  that  memorable  occasion ! 
"His  own  arm  hath  gotten  him  the  victory."     Amen. 


CHAPTER   XXIY. 

REVIVAL   OF   RELIGION   IN   A   SCHOOL. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  1837,  in  R,  I 
witnessed  a  most  glorious  revival  of  religion  in  a  school- 
room. It  was  effected  principally  through  the  instru- 
mentality  of   Miss   ,    the    preceptress.      Early   one 

morning,  while  engaged  in  the  performance  of  pastoral 
duty,  a  messenger  came  in  haste  to  inform  me  that  the 
principal  of  the  school  wished  to  see  me  immediately. 
For  a  moment  I  hesitated,  not  being  able  to  determine 
whether  to  go  then  or  defer  it  till  I  had  accomplished 
my  round  of  pastoral  visitations.  It  was  not  long,  how- 
ever, till  a  second  messenger  was  sent  to  inform  me  that 
there  was  an  unusual  religious  excitement  among  the 
pupils.  This  enabled  me  to  decide  in  a  moment  what 
course  to  pursue.  I  resolved  to  go  with  the  messenger; 
and  on  entering  the  school-room,  I  -was  surprised  at  the 
scene  before  me.  All  eyes  were  suffused  in  tears,  and 
heart-felt  sorrow  was  depicted  in  every  face.  The  precep- 
tress, who  was  a  member  of  another  Church,  received  me 
kindly,  and  as  soon  as  I  was  seated,  gave  me  the  follow- 
ing interesting  account  of  all  that  had  transpired  up  to 


178  FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  time  that  she  had  sent  for  me  to  visit  her  school ' 
"This  morning,"  said  she,  " after  reading  the  usual 
morning  Scripture  lesson,  in  which  all  the  pupils  take 
a  part,  I  felt  deeply  impressed  by  the  Spirit  that  before 
we  commenced  the  regular  forenoon  recitations  I  ought 
to  address  the  young  ladies  on  the  great  importance  of 
seeking  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness. 
This  I  did  in  the  best  way  that  I  could.  I  then  told 
them,  as  the  session  was  drawing  near  to  a  close  and  the 
time  of  our  separation  was  at  hand,  I  felt  interested  in 
nothing  so  much  as  the  salvation  of  their  immortal 
souls.  I  then  closed  my  remarks  by  expressing  the  fond 
hope,  when  life's  toils  are  ended,  to  be  reunited  with 
them  in  the  heavenly  world.  They  then  requested  me 
to  pray  for  them,  which  I  have  done  in  secret  almost 
every  day.  After  prayers  I  ordered  them  to  prepare 
their  recitation,  but  not  one  of  them  left  their  seats; 
they  all  bowed  their  heads,  and  some  wept  aloud.  I 
talked  to  them  again,  and  asked  them  what  they  wished 
me  to  do  more.  They  then  asked  me  to  send  for  a 
minister  to  pray  for  them,  and  tell  them  'what  they 
must  do  to  be  saved.'  And  by  a  rising  vote  they  re- 
quested me  to  send  for  you,  and  I  am  truly  glad  that 
you  are  now  present,  for  I  can  do  nothing  more."  She 
then  resumed  her  seat,  bathed  in  tears,  and  appeared 
deeply  affected.  I  arose  and  sung  part  of  the  hymn 
commencing, 

"Alas,  and  did  my  Savior  bleed, 
And  did  my  Sovereign  die !"  etc. 

And  while  singing  the  verse  so  expressive  of  consecra- 
tion and  entire  surrender  to  God, 

"But  drops  of  grief  can  ne'er  repay 
The  debt  of  love  I  owe; 
Here,  Lord,  I  give  myself  away, 
'Tis  all  that  I  can  do," 


REVIVAL    IN    A    SCHOOL.  179 

the  Spirit  of  God  seemed  to  be  working  powerfully  in 
every  heart.  Half-suppressed  sighs  and  penitential  sobs 
filled  every  bosom.  The  scene  at  that  moment  was  well 
calculated  to  melt  the  most  obdurate  heart  in  the  world. 
\Ye  then  kneeled  in  prayer  at  the  shrine  of  mercy,  and 
mingled  our  tears  and  fervent  prayers  together.  I  then 
requested  any  of  the  young  ladies,  who  felt  like  do- 
ing so,  to  rise  up  in  their  seats  and  relate  to  their 
school-mates  the  exercises  of  their  mind.  Many  arose 
in  different  parts  of  the  house  and  spoke  freely,  and 
closed  by  expressing  their  determination  to  give  them- 
selves up  fully  to  the  service  of  God  in  the  morning  of 
life.  This  produced  a  still  deeper  impression  on  the 
minds  of  tne  half-awakened,  and  caused  a  more  general 
excitement  than  before.  By  request  I  again  united  in 
singing  and  prayer  for  the  broken-hearted  mourners.  I 
then  read  a  part  of  the  third  chapter  of  the  Gospel  of 
the  Evangelist  Jchn,  and  explained  to  them  the  nature 
and  necessity  of  the  new  birth,  together  with  the  man- 
ner of  obtaining  it — by  a  simple  act  of  faith  in  the 
Son  of  God.  I  closed  my  remarks  by  repeating  several 
times,  "  Whosoever  cometh  unto  me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast 
them  out."  While  I  spoke  the  word  with  great  boldness, 
it  was  a  time  of  general  weeping  and  merciful  visitation 
to  many  a  sinner's  heart. 

The  whole  forenoon  was  spent  in  suitable  religious 
exercises,  exhortation,  singing,  preaching,  and  prayer. 
Blessed  be  God,  the  seed  "fell  into  good  ground  and 
brought  forth  fruit,  some  a  hundred-fold,  some  sixty- 
fold,  and  some  thirty-fold."  Many  on  that  morning 
found  peace  in  believing.  This  will  appear  to  the  reader 
by  perusing  a  few  extracts  written  in  the  memorandum 
books  of  the  young  ladies  on  the  afternoon  of  that  ever- 
memorable  day,  February  14,  1837.  These  precious 
little  memorials  were  furnished  me  by  their  teacher  at  the 


180  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

olose  of  the  session.  I  will  only  transcribe  a  few  of 
them : 

"I  have  learned  this  day,  by  happy  experience,  that 
it  is  a  gcod  thing  to  remember  our  Creator  in  the  days 
of  our  youth.  H.  N.  A." 

"I  have  learned  this  day,  by  happy  experience,  that 
those  who  obtain  an  interest  in  Christ  can  rejoice  with 
exceeding  great  joy.  M.  A.  B." 

"I  have  learned  this  day,  by  happy  experience,  that 
nothing  but  religion  will  fit  us  for  the  kingdom  of  God. 

"J.  L.  W." 

"  I  have  learned  this  day  how  important  it  is  for  us  to 

♦Tell  to  sinners  round 
What  a  dear  Savior  I  have  found ;' 

and  how  God  loves  those  who  approach  him  in  prayer  in 
the  morning  as  well  as  in  the  evening.  A,  0." 

I  continued  to  visit  the  school,  to  pray  and  converse 
with  the  pupils  for  several  days  subsequent,  and  before 
the  end  of  the  session  most  of  them  were  savingly  con- 
verted to  God.  Since  that  interesting  occurrence  how 
many  changes  have  transpired  in  that  town  and  vicinity! 
A  number  of  those  who  embraced  religion  in  that  re- 
vival have  long  since  died  in  the  hope  of  the  Gospel, 
and  others  are  now  useful  members  of  the  Church  mil- 
itant. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

CONVERSION     OF    MISS   W.,    A    SCHOOL-TEACHER 
FROM    VERMONT. 

At  the  commencement  of  a  two  days'  meeting  in 
F  I  requested  all  Christians  present  to  single  out  their 
dearest  friends  as  the  subject  of  special  "intercession" 


CONVERSION  OF  A  TEACHER.       181 

during  the  progress  of  the  meeting;  and  also  desired 
every  one  who  would  thus  agree  to  carry  their  friends 
to  the  "troubled  pool/'  to  rise  up  in  the  congregation. 
Many  did  so,  and  among  them  a  young  lady  of  another 
denomination.  The  meeting  was  one  of  great  interest. 
In  answer  to  prayer  many  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
their  children  and  neighbors  converted  to  God.  About 
fifty  were  converted  and  over  thirty  added  to  the  Church. 
My  colleague,  Rev.  John  A.  Baughnian,  preached  and 
labored  at  this  meeting  with  great  success.  At  the  close 
of  this  meeting  I  concluded  to  visit  my  relatives,  some 
twenty-four  miles  distant.  On  my  way  home  I  passed 
through  the  town  of  G.,  the  county  seat  of  Brown.  I 
was  detained  over  night,  and  pressed  to  preach  at  a 
private  house.  The  rooms  were  well  filled,  and  I  tried  to 
do  the  best  I  could.  At  the  close  of  my  discourse  I 
concluded  to  give  them  a  short  account  of  the  work  of 
God  at  F.,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  had  been  carried 
on.  I  especially  alluded  to  the  "  public  covenant/' 
made  at  the  close  of  the  first  sermon,  in  which  many  prom- 
ised to  make  their  unconverted  relatives  the  subject  of 
special  prayer.  I  also  informed  them  that  nearly  all 
were  converted  before  the  close  of  the  meeting;  and  I 
hoped  all  of  them  would  yet  be  saved  for  whom  so  many 
warm  prayers  had  been  offered  within  the  last  few  weeks 
Here  I  was  interrupted  in  the  narration  by  the  loud 
weeping  of  a  young  lady  sitting  just  before  me.  The 
place  "  was  shaken/'  and  the  feeling  spread  all  over  the 
house.  I  ceased  to  preach,  and  invited  any  present  who 
desired  an  interest  in  our  prayers  to  come  forward.  Two 
young  ladies  came  up  and  joined  with  us  in  prayer  at 
the  close  of  the  service.  One  of  them  appeared  deeply 
convinced  of  sin,  and  wept  most  bitterly.  Listen !  I  will 
now  give  the  sequel.  At  the  meeting  in  F.  a  young 
lady  who  was  a  school-teacher  from  the  state  of  Ver- 


182  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

mont,  in  whose  school  I  had  witnessed  such  a  remarka- 
ble awakening  a  few  months  before,  although  a  member 
of  another  Church,  to  the  surprise  of  her  friends  arose 
and  pledged  herself  to  pray  for  some  of  her  unconverted 
relatives,  none  of  whom  were  living  in  that  town  at  the 
time.  However,  she  had  a  younger  sister  engaged  in 
teaching  school  in  the  town  of  G.,  where  I  had  preached 
so  unexpectedly  at  night  in  a  private  house.  Miss  W., 
after  making  the  public  covenant  referred  to  above,  went 
into  her  room  and  wrote  to  her  unconverted  sister,  in 
substance,  as  follows : 

"Dear  Sister, — I  attended  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  to-day,  and  very  unexpectedly  to  myself  felt  it 
to  be  my  duty  to  make  a  public  pledge — as  did  many 
others  in  the  congregation — to  pray  for  their  uncon- 
verted relatives.  I  write  to  let  you  know  that,  although 
absent  from  me,  I  will  pray  for  you  two  or  three  times 
each  day  till  you  are  '  made  partaker  of  like  precious 
faith  with  me/  Remember  we  are  far  from  kindred  and 
friends,  and  what  great  pleasure  it  would  give  me  to 
know  that  you  had  an  interest  in  Christ.  Now,  dear 
sister,  let  me  exhort  you  to  seek  the  Savior  without 
delay." 

This  communication  at  first  made  little  or  no  impres- 
sion on  the  mind  of  her  gay  and  thoughtless  young  sister. 
It  seemed  to  her  as  an  idle  tale,  and  she  cared  nothing 
about  the  matter  whatever.  But  on  that  evening,  hear- 
ing that  a  strange  young  man  was  to  preach  in  town, 
who  resided  in  the  same  place  where  her  older  sister 
lived,  she  was  induced,  by  a  love  of  novelty,  or  a 
latent  hope  that  she  might  hear  something  from  her 
sister,  to  go  to  the  place  of  worship.  But  0,  little  did 
she  think  that  I  had  a  "  message,"  not  from  her  sister, 
but  from  God,  for  her  soul.  She  remained  unmoved, 
however,  till  I  referred  to  the  singular  fact  that  nearly 


CONVERSION    OF    A    TEACHER.  183 

all  had  found  peace  in  believing  who  were  made  the 
subject  of  prayer  by  their  friends.  At  that  moment 
her  sister's  almost-forgotten  communication  rushed  upon 
her  mind.  She  exclaimed,  "0,  how  ungrateful  I  am! 
For  many  long  weeks  my  dear  sister  has  been  weeping 
and  praying  for  my  soul,  and  as  yet  I  am  thoughtless 
and  forgetful  of  God,  my  Maker."  The  Holy  Spirit 
seized  upon  these  circumstances,  in  connection  with  the 
sermon,  to  bring  her,  without  delay,  as  a  weeping  peni- 
tent to  the  throne  of  mercy.  At  the  close  of  the  ser- 
mon she  remained,  and,  to  my  great  joy,  made  known 
the  state  of  her  mind,  and  related  how  strangely  the 
Lord  had  awakened  her  soul  that  evening.  I  encour- 
aged her  to  seek  the  Lord  with  all  her  heart,  and  prom- 
ised to  pray  for  her  also.  She  went  home  and  com- 
municated with  her  sister  that  evening,  and  requested 
her  not  to  cease  praying  for  her  by  day  and  night  till 
she  should  find  Him  of  "whom  Moses  in  the  law  and 
the  prophets  did  write."  It  was  not  many  weeks  till 
they  were  permitted  to  rejoice  together  in  hope  of  a 
common  faith  and  a  common  salvation,  in  answer  to  their 
united  faith  and  prayer. 

Shortly  after  her  conversion  she  came  to  reside  with, 
her  sister  at  F.,  and  proposed  to  unite  herself  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  the  great  surprise  of 
all  her  acquaintances  and  mortification  of  her  older 
sister,  who  was  of  the  Calvinistic  school,  and  had  been 
a  Congregationalist.  Every  effort  was  made  by  her 
sister  and  the  Presbyterian  minister  and  elders  residing 
in  that  place,  to  dissuade  her  from  forming  a  union  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  But  it  was  all  in  vain. 
Persecution  of  the  most  forbidding  character  was  also 
tried  without  effect.  The  conduct  of  her  opposers  became 
the  subject  of  public  animadversion,  and  even  the 
wicked  declared  their  opposition  to  her  wishes  was  anti- 


184  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

christian  and  cruel.  But  the  young  lady  was  firm  and 
unyielding.  She  constantly  affirmed  her  belief  in  our 
doctrines,  and  that  she  never  could  subscribe  to  the 
doctrines  set  forth  in  the  "Confession  of  Faith"  and 
standard  works  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  She  took 
ample  time  for  reflection  and  prayer,  and  then  with 
great  deliberation  came  forward  and  joined  with  our 
society.  In  the  course  of  a  year  or  two  she  returned 
to  the  state  of  Vermont,  and  was  the  means  of  the  con- 
version of  many  of  her  relatives,  and  when  last  heard 
from  was  still  on  her  way  to  the  kingdom  of  glory. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE     TIMELY     WARNING. 

About  midsummer,  at  Calvary  meeting-house,  at  the 
close  of  one  of  my  sermons,  I  felt  strangely  drawn  out 
while  warning  the  congregation  against  the  "delay  of 
conversion."  Many  wept  aloud,  and  the  Spirit  seemed  to 
strive  with  the  ungodly  in  a  most  wonderful  manner.  I 
told  the  congregation  I  felt  impressed  by  the  Spirit 
that  some  were  hearing  the  last  offer  of  salvation  which 
would  ever  salute  their  ears  in  time.  I  lifted  up  my  voice 
and  wept,  and  cried,  UiO  that  thou  hadst  known,  in  this 
thy  day,  the  things  that  belong  to  thy  peace!'  but  soon, 
ah  !  very  soon,  they  will  be  hid  from  your  eyes.  '  Behold, 
now  is  the  accepted  time,  and  now  is  the  day  of  salva- 
tion.' "  I  closed  by  saying,  "  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  it  is 
now  or  never  with  some  who  hear  me  at  this  hour."  When 
the  congregation  was  dismissed,  a  gentleman  of  the  name 
of  B.,  on  his  way  home,  remarked  to  his  wife  as  fol- 
lows :  "  My  dear,  I  had  strange  feelings  to-day,  such  as  1 


THE    TIMELY    WARNING.  185 

never  experienced  before.  I  felt  that  I  ought  to  unite 
with  the  Church  immediately,  or  I  fear  it  will  soon  be  too 
late."  She  replied,  "I  felt  as  solemn  as  if  I  was  attending 
a  funeral.  Husband,  I  fear  something  of  a  serious  nature 
is  going  to  happen  soon  to  one  of  us.  0,  I  do  wish  we 
were  members  of  the  Church  and  each  prepared  to  die." 
This  was  the  theme  of  their  conversation  for  a  considera- 
ble time  after  they  left  the  house  of  God.  They  resided 
in  the  town  of  M.,  on  the  bank  of  the  Ohio  river, 
about  four  miles  from  the  church.  Mr.  B.  kept  a 
wood-yard  for  the  accommodation  of  steam-boats.  Be- 
tween the  going  down  of  the  sun  and  twilight,  a  boat 
rounded  to,  as  was  the  custom  of  steamers,  and  took  one 
of  his  wood-boats  in  tow,  as  she  continued  her  upward 
voyage.  When  the  wood  was  all  placed  on  the  guards  of 
the  steamer,  and  Mr.  B.  had  received  his  money,  he  cast 
off  one  of  his  cables  and  jumped  into  his  boat  to  return 
home.  On  passing  the  wheel-house  he  was  suddenly 
knocked  overboard,  and  sunk  to  rise  no  more.  It  was  now 
quite  dark,  and  the  steam-boat  continued  her  onward  pas- 
sage, none  knowing  the  melancholy  fate  of  Mr.  B.  The 
evening  was  calm,  the  air  was  mild  and  balmy,  and  his 
wife  went  out  soon  after  dark  and  seated  herself  by  the 
river  side  to  watch  for  his  return.  As  time  passed  slowly 
away,  she  was  filled  with  serious  reflections  upon  the  sol- 
emn services  of  the  afternoon.  The  wood-boat  drifted 
out  into  the  current  and  passed  by  unobserved,  but  her 
husband  returned  not.  After  waiting  a  reasonable  time, 
she  returned  and  expressed  her  fears  to  her  family  and 
friends  that  some  accident  had  befallen  him.  She  refused 
to  retire  to  her  bed,  but  spent  the  greater  part  of  the 
night  in  company  with  some  of  her  neighbors,  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  watching  for  his  return.  0,  that  was 
a  sad  and  gloomy  night !  The  morning  dawned,  but  no 
tidings  from  Mr.  B.  Messengers  were  dispatched  up  and 
16 


136  TOOT- PR  I  NTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

down  the  river,  and  the  boat  was  found  ashore,  the  next 
day,  seven  or  eight  miles  below,  confirming  the  belief  that 
Mr.  B.  had  found  a  watery  grave.  Several  days  afterward 
the  body  of  her  husband  was  recovered  by  a  steam-boat  in 
some  shoal  water,  eight  or  ten  miles  below,  and  conveyed 
to  his  almost  heart-broken  wife  in  the  town  of  M.  A 
deep  and  settled  gloom  pervaded  the  entire  community 
for  many  months  after  this  melancholy  occurrence. 

"There  is  a  time,  we  know  not  when; 
A  point,  we  know  not  where, 
That  seals  the  destiny  of  men 

For  glory  or  despair : 
To  pass  that  limit  is  to  die." 

I  often  conversed  with  his  bereaved  companion  in 
regard  to  this  fatal  catastrophe.  She  took  the  timely 
warning,  sought  an  interest  in  Christ,  and,  not  long  after 
his  death,  I  received  her  on  trial  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 

At  our  camp  meeting,  late  at  night,  I  opened  the  doors 
of  the  Church,  and  many  came  forward  and  made  appli- 
cation for  membership.  Among  that  number,  I  noticed 
a  very  intelligent  and  promising  young  man.  He  seemed 
very  much  affected,  and  manifested  a  degree  of  firmness 
of  purpose  that  attracted  my  attention.  At  the  close  of 
the  sermon,  the  next  morning,  I  gave  another  invitation 
to  any  desiring  to  unite  with  the  Church,  and,  to  my  sur- 
prise, this  same  young  man  came  forward  and  gave  me 
his  hand  again.  When  writing  down  the  names  of  the 
applicants,  I  said  to  him,  "My  dear  brother,  did  you  not 
unite  with  the  Church  last  night?"  He  replied,  "0  yes." 
''Why,  then,  have  you  come  forward  again?"  He  an- 
swered, "  The  excitement  was  very  great  last  night,  and 
a  large  number  joined;  I  was  afraid  you  did  not  get  my 
name.  I  have  considered  the  matter  well.  I  am  not 
ashamed  of  what  I  have  done.     I  want  the  world,  and  all 


THE    TIMELY    WARNING.  187 

my  friends  especially,  to  know  that  I  have  united  with  the 
people  of  God.  Brother  Gaddis,  I  want  you  to  take  my 
name  again,  so  that  there  shall  be  no  mistake  about  it." 

On  taking  my  leave  of  the  people  on  "White  Oak  circuit, 
I  undertook  to  preach  what  is  called  a  "farewell  sermon " 
at  all  of  my  appointments.  Many  of  those  occasions 
were  seasons  of  peculiar  interest  and  trial.  After  the 
close  of  my  last  round,  I  was  scarcely  able  to  leave 
my  bed  for  a  week.  At  F.  I  closed  the  labors  of  the 
year  with  a  two  days'  meeting.  In  this  meeting  I  had 
the  assistance  of  Rev.  R.  S.  Foster,  Rev.  John  Miley,  and 
Rev.  Levi  P.  Miller.  The  close  of  the  meeting  on  Sab- 
bath night  will  never  be  forgotten  by  hundreds.  Some 
of  the  members  requested  me  to  stand  in  the  front  of  the 
altar,  and,  while  the  last  hymn  was  singing,  to  allow  the 
members  to  pass  from  the  right  to  the  left  and  bid  me 
farewell.  As  I  had  no  experience  in  things  of  this  kind; 
and  being  naturally  of  an  obliging  spirit  in  matters  of  no 
vital  importance,  I  readily  gave  my  consent,  and  an- 
nounced the  arrangement  of  the  procession.  However,  it 
was  not  long  before  I  was  crying,  and  the  people  too,  while 
some  were  shouting  aloud  the  praises  of  my  Redeemer. 
Before  half  the  congregation  had  passed  round  the  house, 
there  was  a  perfect  "blockade"  in  front  of  the  altar,  and 
the  procession  was  brought  to  a  halt.  The  glory  of  God 
filled  the  temple,  and  some  sinners  dated  their  awakening 
from  that  hour. 

It  was  near  the  hour  of  twelve  o'clock  before  all  the 
songregation  had  left  the  house.  Some  were  so  filled 
with  the  Spirit  that  they  praised  God  aloud  in  the  streets 
as  they  returned  to  their  homes.  I  was  greatly  attached 
to  the  members  of  the  Church  on  this  circuit.  I  am 
happy  now  in  the  reflection  that,  in  turn,  they  loved  me 
much  for  "Christ's  sake,"  and,  no  doubt,  still  pray  for 
my  prosperity.     At  the  close  of  this  year,  the  total  num- 


188         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

ber  of  members  on  "White  Oak  circuit  amounted   to  one 
thousand,  one  hundred  and  ninety. 

During  that  year  I  had  a  pleasant  place  of  "rest"  in 
the  kind  family  of  the  Rev.  John  W.  Clarke,  near  the 
town  of  Bethel,  Ohio.  The  Lord  bless  him  and  his 
lovely  family,  for  their  kindness  to  the  young  itinerant! 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

WEST   CHESTER   CIRCUIT   IN   1837. 

At  the  close  of  my  labors  on  White  Oak  circuit  I 
went  to  conference  at  Xenia,  Ohio.  On  my  way  I  en- 
joyed myself  very  much.  For  several  days  I  was  in 
company  with  two  noble-hearted  brethren,  and  we 
preached,  exhorted,  and  sang  the  songs  of  Zion  as  we 
journeyed  along  the  highways.  This  beguiled  the  te- 
diousness  of  the  journey  and  improved  our  gifts  and 
graces  also.  This  was  the  first  conference  that  I  at- 
tended. All  the  deliberations  and  religious  exercises 
made  a  deep  impression  on  my  mind.  At  that  confer- 
ence I  met  with  the  late  F.  A.  Dighton,  who  was  then 
agent  for  the  American  Bible  Society.  I  never  shall 
forget  his  sermon  and  his  speech  at  the  anniversary  of 
our  Missionary  Society.  My  feelings  were  so  excited 
that  I  gave  away  nearly  all  the  money  I  had.  But  I 
must  here  record  the  singular  fact,  that  before  I  com- 
pleted my  first  round  on  the  circuit  to  which  I  was 
appointed,  I  received  it  back  with  good  interest.  This 
was  a  great  blessing  to  my  soul.  I  there  learned  the 
glorious  and  ennobling  truth  that  "it  is  more  blessed  to 
give  than  receive."  I  was  appointed  at  that  conference 
to  West  Chester  circuit,  a  most  fertile  and  beautiful 
district  of  country,  lying  between  the  Little  and  Great 


WEST    CHESTER    CIRCUIT.  189 

Miami  rivers;  beginning  at  Montgomery,  within  five 
miles  of  3Iilford,  and  extending  over  to  the  Great  Miami, 
at  Hamilton,  in  Butler  county.  One  of  my  appoint- 
ments was  within  eight  miles  of  Cincinnati.  This  was 
a  region  of  country  I  had  never  visited;  and  when  I  left 
home  to  go  to  my  work,  "I  went  out  not  knowing  whither 
I  went."  But  I  shall  never  forget  the  day  I  arrived  in 
Milford  at  the  house  of  Kev.  William  B.  Christie,  who 
was  still  presiding  elder  of  the  district.  I  remained 
with  him  till  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Be- 
fore I  started  we  walked  out  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 
I  looked  over  to  the  other  side  and  wept  like  a  child,  and 
said,  "0,  how  can  I  cross  this  river  and  go  again  among 
strangers  to  commence  the  labors  of  another  itinerant 
year?"  Brother  C.  put  his  arm  kindly  around  me  and 
pressed  me  near  his  heart  with  all  the  tender- 
ness of  a  father,  and  spoke  words  of  comfort  to  my 
desponding  soul,  and  said,  "'Go  through  the  land  in  the 
length  and  breadth  of  it,  and  as  ye  go,  preach.'  Be  not 
afraid  of  the  face  of  clay.  The  Lord  God  of  Jacob  will 
go  with  you  and  give  you  greater  success  this  year  than 
formerly."  We  went  into  the  house  and  prayed  together, 
and  I  took  my  departure.  I  was  deeply  engaged  in 
prayer  all  the  evening,  and  as  I  came  in  sight  of  Mont- 
gomery I  lifted  my  hat  and  prayed  to  the  God  of  bat- 
tles to  give  me  every  unconverted  soul  in  the  place.  It 
was  late  on  Saturday  evening  when  I  arrived  at  the 
house  of  my  good  brother  D.  N.,  who  was  one  of  the 
stewards  of  the  circuit  and  leader  of  the  small  class  in 
that  town.  He  informed  me  that  I  was  to  preach  the 
next  day,  not,  however,  in  that  place,  but  at  Sharon. 
Early  in  the  morning  I  started  for  my  appointment. 
My  heart  was  sad  at  the  thought  of  beginning  another 
year's  toil — to  endure  the  same  conflicts  through  which 
I  had  passed  during  the  last  twelve  months.     There  was 


190         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

one  thing  that  pressed  heavily  upon  my  mind — I  was 
often  tempted  to  doubt  whether  it  was  my  duty  to  travel 
and  preach.  This  brought  darkness  upon  my  mind, 
and  I  did  not  enjoy  my  own  preaching.  Sometimes  for 
weeks  I  would  labor  under  a  cloud  of  this  kind,  which 
made  me  feel  very  unhappy.  I  was  not  satisfied  tc 
see  others  feasting  on  the  Gospel  which  I  preached; 
while  during  its  delivery  I  had  not  much  comfort  in  my 
own  soul.  I  was  all  the  time  "  like  a  cart  pressed  with 
sheaves."  I  realized  every  moment  of  my  waking  hours 
the  fullest  meaning  of  these  words,  "The  zeal  of  thine 
house  hath  eaten  me  up."  I  had  no  rest  either  in 
mind  or  body,  I  was  so  anxious  to  see  sinners  converted 
to  God.  I  had  oftentimes  asked  the  Lord  to  give 
me  a  token  or  a  sign  that  he  would  stand  up  with  me 
and  make  known  the  saving  efficacy  of  the  Gospel. 
This  morning  I  resolved  to  settle  this  matter  before  I 
went  to  another  appointment;  like  Gideon  I  desired 
yet  another  sign.  "And  Gideon  said  unto  God,  If  thou 
wilt  save  Israel  by  mine  hand,  behold  I  will  put  a  fleece 
of  wool  on  the  floor,  and  if  the  dew  be  on  the  fleece 
only,  and  it  be  dry  upon  all  the  earth  beside,  then  shall 
I  know  that  thou  wilt  save  Israel  by  mine  hand,  as  thou 
hast  said.  And  it  was  so;  for  he  rose  early  on  the 
morrow,  and  thrust  the  fleece  together,  and  wringed  the 
dew  out  of  the  fleece,  a  bowl  full  of  water.  And  Gideon 
said  unto  God,  Let  not  thine  anger  be  hot  against  me, 
and  I  will  speak  but  this  once:  let  me  prove,  I  pray 
thee,  but  this  once  with  the  fleece;  let  it  now  be  dry 
only  upon  the  fleece,  and  upon  all  the  ground  let  there 
be  dew.  And  God  did  so  that  night;  for  it  was  dry 
upon  the  fleece  only,  and  there  was  dew  on  all  the 
ground."  Judges  vi,  36—40.  So  I  said  to  the  Al- 
mighty, "'I  will  speak  but  this  once:  let  me  prove,  1 
pray  thee.'     Give  me  another  sign." 


WEST     CHESTER     CIRCUIT.  191 

I  rode  into  the  town  of  Sharon  before  nine  o'clock, 
and  was  informed  that  my  first  appointment  was  at 
Union  Chapel,  some  nine  miles  distant.  I  found  I  could 
not  reach  it  in  time,  and  the  brethren  urged  me  to  re- 
main there  and  preach  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M  I  finally 
concluded  to  do  so.  I  then  retired  alone  into  the  grave- 
yard and  kneeled  down  among  the  tombs,  where  no  eye 
but  God  could  see  me.  0  never  shall  I  forget  the 
anguish  of  that  hour.  My  soul  was  troubled,  and  I 
resolved  never  to  leave  the  spot  till  I  heard  the  inward 
whispers  of  the  Spirit  giving  me  the  assurance  that 
my  prayers  were  accepted  and  that  it  should  be  even 
as  I  desired.  I  moreover  promised  the  Lord  if  he 
would  grant  me  this  favor,  I  would  never  ask  for  any 
other  signs  except  "living  epistles,  read  and  known  of 
all  men,"  as  the  seals  of  my  apostleship.  I  then  asked 
the  Lord  to  give  me  to  feel  the  delightful  influence  of 
the  "Comforter"  in  my  own  poor  soul  while  proclaim- 
ing the  Gospel  to  my  dying  fellow-men ;  and,  if  it  was 
my  duty  to  travel  on  that  circuit  and  preach  his  truth, 
"to  make  my  great  commission  known"  that  day  by 
not  only  awakening  sinners,  but  also  filling  my  own  soul 
with  the  joys  of  his  salvation,  while  proclaiming  it 
to  others,  in  such  a  measure  as  I  had  never  experienced 
before. 

While  thus  "agonizing"  in  prayer,  on  a  sudden  a 
sweet  calm  came  over  my  spirit,  and  my  heart  melted 
into  tenderness  before  the  Lord.  The  heavens  were 
opened,  and  I  had  by  faith  bright  visions  of  the  glory 
of  God.  I  was  only  aroused  from  my  reverie  by  the 
ringing  of  the  bell  for  public  service.  I  then  arose 
from  my  knees  and  went  into  the  church,  and  com- 
menced the  services  by  singing  and  prayer.  I  then 
announced  a  text  from  which  I  had  never  spoken  before — 
1  Corinthians  ii,  1,  2 — "And  I,  brethren,  when  I  came 


192  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

to  you,  came  not  with  excellency  of  speech  or  of  wis- 
dom, declaring  unto  you  the  testimony  of  God;  for  I 
determined  not  to  know  any  thing  among  you  save  Jesus 
Christ  and  him  crucified."  The  theme  of  my  discourse 
was  Christ  crucified,  and  my  determination  not  to  know 
any  thing  else  among  them.  The  Holy  Ghost  laid  boun- 
tifully to  my  hand.  My  tongue  was  like  the  "pen  of  a 
ready  writer;"  and  when  about  half  way  through  my 
sermon,  I  felt  the  warming  rays  of  the  Sun  of  right- 
eousness shining  directly  into  my  heart,  and  before  I 
had  ceased  speaking  I  was  so  filled  with  the  love  of 
God  that  I  clapped  my  hands  and  shouted  aloud  for  joy. 
Sinners  began  to  weep  and  cry  for  mercy;  saints  shouted 
for  joy,  also.  I  then  closed  by  opening  the  doors  of 
the  Church.  Six  or  seven  joined,  and  among  the  num- 
ber a  young  man  of  the  name  of  Samuel  Eiker,  who 
was  soon  afterward  converted,  and  is  now  a  traveling 
preacher  in  the  Ohio  conference.  I  felt  that  day  that 
I  had  gained  a  most  signal  victory,  and  I  then  resolved 
to  gird  on  the  armor  afresh,  and  to  make  "full  proof 
of  my  ministry"  among  that  people.  On  my  way  to 
my  appointment  in  the  afternoon  Satan  thrust  sorely 
at  me,  and  suggested  to  my  mind  that  I  should  soon  get 
into  darkness  again  upon  the  same  subject,  but  I  in- 
stantly "resisted  him,"  and  he  left  me  in  the  quiet 
possession  of  the  field  of  victory.  At  my  afternoon  ap- 
pointment in  the  town  of  P.,  I  even  felt  better  than  I 
did  in  the  morning,  and  seldom  preached  with  a  barren 
soul  during  the  whole  of  that  year.  This  was  a  year 
of  peculiar  trial,  and  twice  I  was  brought  down  almost 
to  the  brink  of  the  grave.  My  colleague,  Rev.  J.  J. 
Hill,  was  a  holy  man,  and  the  work  of  the  Lord  spread 
all  over  the  circuit.  I  concluded  to  make  my  home  at 
Montgomery.  Here  Satan  had  his  seat.  At  this  time 
the  Presbyterians  had  the   only  church   in   the  village. 


REVIVAL    AT    MONTGOMERY.  193 

The  Methodists  were  feeble,  and  held  their  worship  in 
the  old  academy.  The  large  majority  of  the  member- 
ship resided  in  the  vicinity,  but  some  of  them  several 
miles  distant. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

REVIVAL    AT     MONTGOMERY. 

In  the  town  of  Montgomery  I  found  an  "  open  door," 
but  we  had  "  many  adversaries."  At  my  second  appoint- 
ment in  that  place,  after  trying  to  preach,  I  felt  deeply 
impressed  that  I  ought  to  invite  persons  to  join  the 
Church.  Although  the  word  preached  seemed  to  pro- 
duce very  little  effect  upon  the  audience,  I  urged  upon 
all  present  the  necessity  of  coming  out  from  the  world, 
and  making  a  public  profession  of  Christ.  While  we 
were  engaged  in  singing  the  first  hymn  at  the  close  of 
the  sermon,  a  young  lady  came  forward,  and  presented 
her  application.  I  felt  much  encouraged,  and  made  a 
few  remarks;  and,  while  singing  another  verse,  a  young 
man  came  forward  and  gave  me  his  hand.  This,  I  dis- 
covered, produced  a  great  sensation  in  the  assembly.  I 
could  then  discern  the  hand  of  God  outstretched  to 
save,  and  again  urged  others  to  come  to  Christ;  and, 
while  singing  a  few  verses  more,  a  married  lady  came 
forward,  and  presented  her  application  also.  By  this 
time  the  excitement  became  very  general,  and  the  ma- 
jority of  all  present  were  bathed  in  tears.  I  exhorted 
again,  and,  while  singing  the  closing  hymn,  an  aged  gen- 
tleman came  up  weeping,  and  gave  me  his  hand,  and 
said,  u  I  will  go  also  j  these  are  all  my  children  !"  At 
the  close  of  the  service,  I  learned  that  it  was  a  father, 
17 


194  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

son,  and  two  daughters  who  had  so  unexpectedly  sought 
a  refuge  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  that  night.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  a  most  gracious  revival.  The  fam- 
ily were  very  respectable,  and  exerted  a  powerful  influ- 
ence over  those  with  whom  they  daily  associated.  It 
was  only  a  few  weeks  after  they  had  joined  the  society, 
till  they  were  all  soundly  converted.  They  soon  began 
to  publish,  among  their  unconverted  relatives  and  neigh- 
bors, the  wonderful  love  of  the  Savior  to  their  poor  souls. 
This  became  the  general  topic  of  conversation  in  the 
stores  and  shops  in  the  village — some  marveling,  and 
others  persecuting  and  even  cursing  the  Church  and  the 
stranger  who  had  settled  there  to  preach  the  Gospel  and 
defend  the  doctrines  of  Wesley  and  Fletcher.  I  ap- 
pointed a  prayer  meeting  at  my  boarding-house,  during 
the  week,  at  which  I  related  my  own  conversion,  and 
exhorted  the  young  people  all  to  follow  the  example  of 
the  R.  family,  and  join  the  Church.  It  was  not  long 
before  many  began  to  inquire,  in  secret,  "  What  must  I 
do  to  be  saved  ?"  Their  number  increased  every  week, 
and  at  last  they  commenced,  in  a  more  public  manner, 
to  show  that  they  "  sorrowed  after  a  godly  sort." 

As  the  old  year  was  closing,  I  appointed  a  protracted 
meeting,  which  was  owned  of  God  in  the  conversion  of 
many  souls.  As  the  new  year  opened  upon  us,  God 
lifted  up  the  light  of  his  countenance  upon  his  little 
Church  in  M.  The  work  broke  out  afresh,  and  the  whole 
community  was  shaken  by  the  mighty  power  of  the  God 
of  the  armies  of  Israel.  In  less  than  six  weeks  nearly 
one  hundred  were  added  to  the  Church,  and  more  than 
that  number  converted  to  God.  This  work  was  violently 
opposed.  Persecution  waxed  hotter  as  the  work  of  God 
advanced.  Every  stratagem  that  hellish  malignity  could 
devise  was  at  length  resorted  to.  The  young  converts 
were  ridiculed  in   public   and   private   circles,  but  they 


REVIVAL    AT    MONTGOMERY.  195 

were  "in  nothing  terrified  by  their  adversaries."  I,  at 
iength,  became  the  "song  of  the  drunkard/'  and  almost 
every  , night  some  "lewd  fellows,  of  the  baser  sort/' 
would  follow  me  to  my  boarding-house,  and  stop  on  the 
pavement  opposite  my  room,  and  sing  over  all  our  "  revi- 
val songs/'  and  then  dance,  curse,  and  swear,  and  give 
three  "hurrahs"  for  the  young  Methodist  preacher; 
and  then  all  would  say  "Amen!"  and  depart  for  their 
respective  homes.  I  never  upbraided  them  either  in 
public  or  private.  I  remembered  the  words  of  my 
blessed  Kedeemer,  "Blessed  are  ye  when  men  shall 
revile  you  and  persecute  you,  and  say  all  manner  of  evil 
of  you  falsely,  for  my  sake :  rejoice  and  be  exceeding 
glad,  for  so  persecuted  they  the  prophets  which  were 
before  you."  While  they  were  nightly  engaged  in 
"scorning,"  I  would  kneel  down  and  pray  to  God  to 
have  mercy  upon  them,  and,  before  the  close  of  that 
revival  meeting,  to  make  them  the  trophies  of  his  re- 
deeming mercy. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  till  one  of  their  number  was 
awakened,  and  called  upon  me  for  a  note  of  admission 
into  love-feast.  I  most  cordially  granted  him  his  re- 
quest. The  same  day,  as  he  afterward  informed  me,  he 
received  a  ticket  to  a  ball,  which  was  to  "come  off"  at 
the  same  time  in  that  vicinity.  This  was  a  device  of 
the  emissaries  of  Satan  to  destroy  his  soul.  They  well 
understood  his  passion  for  this  kind  of  amusement,  and 
predicted  that  he  would  soon  give  up  all  his  seriousness, 
and  that  night  would  be  found  among  his  old  companions 
in  the  merry  dance.  His  soul,  during  all  that  day,  was 
a  mighty  battle-field.  The  "strong  man  armed"  was 
unwilling  to  quit  his  abode.  He  informed  me  that  more 
than  twenty  times,  during  the  day,  he  took  out  his 
"card  of  invitation"  to  the  party,  and  his  "love-feast 
ticket,"  and  placed  them  side  by  side,  and  read  them  over 


196         FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

and  over  again.  When  lie  read,  "Admit  the  bearer,  J 
W.,  to  love-feast,  January,  1838,"  he  would  say  to  him- 
self— as  he  told  me,  with  tears — "I  have  had  many  a 
ticket  to  attend  dancing-parties,  but  this  is  the  first  note 
I  have  ever  had  to  go  to  a  Methodist  love-feast."  The 
devil  and  his  young  companions  still  urged  him  to  accept 
the  former,  and  had  so  far  prevailed  as  to  get  him  to 
dress  for  the  dancing-party;  but,  at  length,  he  came  to 
the  conclusion  to  go  to  the  love-feast  first,  and,  after 
the  close  of  the  meeting,  to  attend  the  "  ball,"  if  he 
felt  like  it;  but  before  the  close  of  the  love-feast  meet- 
ing, with  a  broken  heart,  he  joined  the  Church,  and 
before  twelve  o'clock,  that  same  night,  in  my  boarding- 
house,  after  the  close  of  the  public  service,  was  soundly 
converted.  This  was  a  source  of  great  grief  among  the 
enemies  of  the  cross.  The  young  men  had  now  lost 
their  leader,  and  the  band  of  "scorners"  were  suddenly 
disbanded.  But  the  meeting  went  on  with  power,  and 
souls  were  added  to  the  Church  almost  every  day.  Per- 
secution raged  at  different  points  on  the  circuit,  and  at 
several  places  my  colleague  had  the  disturbers  of  our  con- 
gregations arraigned  before  the  civil  magistrate,  and 
fined  for  "  disorderly  conduct  j"  but  this  process  was  not 
attended  with  any  beneficial  results. 

Notwithstanding  the  continued  opposition  of  our  en- 
emies, the  word  of  the  Lord  grew  and  mightily  prevailed. 
At  what  was  called  the  Company  Mills,  on  the  Little 
Miami,  many  souls  were  powerfully  awakened  and  con- 
verted to  God  at  one  of  our  protracted  meetings.  Dur- 
ing the  progress  of  this  meeting,  two  gentlemen,  living 
in  that  region,  were  both  awakened  to  a  sense  of  their 
lost  estate.  For  a  number  of  years  past  they  had  been 
at  enmity.  Now  both  of  them  felt  the  need  of  forgive- 
ness, and  were  willing  to  be  reconciled  to  each  other; 
but  pride,  that  fearful  enemy,  kept  either  from  making 


REVIVAL    AT    MONTGOMERY.  197 

the  first  advance  till  near  the  close  of  our  meeting.  At 
last  the  one  who  had  offended  the  most  grievously,  rose 
up  in  the  public    congregation,   and   said,    "It   is  well 

known  in   the   neighborhood   that  Mr.  and  myself 

have  been  at  enmity  for  a  number  of  years.  I  now  rise 
up  here  to  confess  to  my  fault,  and  ask  his  forgiveness 
for  any  and  all  the  injuries  that  I  have  done  him;  and  I 
also  ask  him  if  he  is  willing  to  be  reconciled,  to  meet  me 
in  the  middle  aisle  of  the  church. M  In  a  moment  his 
neighbor  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  said,  "I  am  more  than 
willing!"  and  started  toward  the  aisle.  They  soon  met, 
and  embraced  each  other  cordially.  It  was  one  of  the 
most  deeply-affecting  scenes  that  I  ever  witnessed.  They 
wept  aloud,  and  the  congregation  wept  also,  and  many  of 
the  people  of  God  shouted  aloud  for  joy.  They  were 
both  converted,  and  joined  the  Church.  One  of  them 
died,  not  long  afterward,  in  the  full  assurance  of  a  happy 
immortality. 

During  that  summer,  we  resolved  to  build  a  new 
church  in  the  town  of  Montgomery.  It  was  with  great 
difficulty  that  I  obtained  the  amount  requisite ;  but 
mighty  prayer,  faith,  and  perseverance  can  accomplish 
wonders.  A  lot  was  procured,  and  the  building  put 
under  contract  before  I  left  the  circuit.  The  house  was 
neatly  finished,  and  dedicated  the  next  spring.  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  preaching  the  first  sermon  in  it  after  it 
was  completed.  We  closed  our  labors  on  the  circuit  with 
a  membership  of  six  hundred  and  twenty-two. 


198  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

CHAPTER    XXIX. 

THE  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER. 

Among  the  first  fruits  of  my  ministry  at  M.,  was  a 
young  lady,  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy  merchant.  Soon 
after  I  commenced  my  labors  in  that  place  I  appointed  a 
prayer  meeting  for  Wednesday  evening,  at  my  boarding- 
house.  I  first  noticed  her  at  the  close  of  one  of  those 
meetings,  apparently  much  concerned  in  regard  to  spirit- 
ual and  divine  things.  In  the  early  part  of  the  winter 
we  held  a  protracted  meeting.  I  gave  public  notice  that 
we  would  hold  a  love-feast  meeting  on  Sabbath,  and  that 
all  who,  though  not  members  of  our  Church,  desired  tG 
"flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,"  must  come  to  my  lodgings 
and  procure,  if  they  wished  to  attend  the  love-feast,  what 
is  usually  denominated  a  "note  of  admission."  Among 
the  number  who  applied  was  Miss  Mary . 

At  the  close  of  the  love-feast  on  Sabbath  morning,  I 
discovered  that  she  was  deeply  affected  by  the  exercises; 
and  during  the  singing  of  the  last  hymn,  I  went  to 
her  and  thus  accosted  her:  "Mary,  do  you  not  feel  your 
need  of  an  interest  in  Christ?"  "I  do,"  was  her  prompt 
reply.  "Do  you  not  feel  like  seeking  religion  now?" 
She  replied  in  the  affirmative;  with  deep  emotion.  I  then 
asked  her  if  she  did  not  think  it  would  be  better  for  her 
to  unite  with  the  Church,  and  she  answered,  "  Yes,  sir,  1 
know  it  would."  Having  learned,  a  short  time  previous, 
that  her  father  was  opposed  to  any  of  his  family  joining 
any  Church,  and  especially  the  Methodists,  I  asked  her 
this  question :  "  Mary,  do  you  think  your  father  would 
oppose  you?"  To  which  she  replied,  weeping  bitterly, 
"Yes,  sir,  I  know  he  would."  I  then  said  to  her,  "I  can 
hardly  persuade  myself  to  believe   that  he  would  oppose 


THE  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER.     199 

you  in  doing  right,"  and  returned  to  the  stand  and  closed 
the  meeting.  Not  long  after  this  some  one  informed  her 
father  that  she  was  at  the  love-feast,  and  that  I  had 
spoken  to  her  about  joining  the  Church.  He  became 
very  angry,  and  the  first  opportunity  called  his  daughter 
into  a  private  room  and  demanded  of  her  a  correct  state- 
ment in  regard  to  the  whole  matter.  This  she  gave  with 
her  usual  candor,  and  without  the  least  hesitancy.  He 
then  requested  her  to  repeat  to  him  all  that  I  said  to  her 
in  the  love-feast.  This  she  also  did  with  great  accuracy. 
He  then  enjoined  it  upon  her  never  to  speak  with  me 
again  upon  any  subject,  and  also  forbade  her  ever  going 
to  the  Methodist  Church  again  while  she  was  under 
parental  authority.  This,  to  her,  was  a  very  great  trial. 
She  felt  her  need  of  salvation,  and  loved  our  doctrines 
and  usages  better  than  those  of  any  other  denomination. 
She  was  often  heard  to  say  that  she  would  give  a  handful 
of  pure  gold  for  the  privilege  of  going  to  our  Church 
again  to  hear  the  Gospel  proclaimed. 

At  the  close  of  this  interesting  meeting  I  left  home  to 
fill  my  regular  appointments  on  the  other  part  of  the  cir- 
cuit. I  think  I  was  only  absent  at  this  time  for  about 
two  weeks.  On  my  return  home  I  was  surprised  to  learn 
that  soon  after  my  departure  the  whole  village  was  thrown 

into  a  state  of  excitement  by  the   conduct  of  3Ir.  , 

the  father  of  the  young  lady  with  whom  I  had  held  the 
conversation  in  love-feast.  In  public  and  private  he  had 
threatened  to  whip  me  as  soon  as  I  returned  home,  assign- 
ing as  the  reason,  that  I  had  the  impudence  to  talk  to  his 
daughter  on  the  subject  of  religion  in  the  public  congre- 
gation without  an  introduction.  Every  one  that  met  me 
told  the  same  story,  and  many  advised  me  to  keep  out 
of  his  way  till  his  passion  should  subside  a  little.  I 
assured  them  that  they  need  not  be  alarmed;  that  I  was 
not  afraid  of  him  when  walking  in  the  path  of  duty.     Up 


200         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

to  this  period  I  had  never  spoken  to  Mr. ,  although 

I  had  purchased  goods  at  his  store.  Two  or  three  days 
after  my  return  home,  I  told  brother  N.,  with  whom  I 
boarded,  that  I  wanted  some  letter  paper,  and  thought  I 

would  go  and  purchase  it  at  the  store  of  Mr.  .     He 

advised  me  not  to  go  there,  and  said,  "it  would  look  like 
inviting  an  attack/'  I  replied,  that  I  had  two  appoint- 
ments to  fill  the  next  Sabbath,  and  if  I  was  to  have  a 
whipping  I  would  prefer  to  have  it  in  the  early  part  of 
the  week,  so  that  I  would  get  over  the  soreness  before 
Sabbath.  This  seemed  to  amuse  him  very  much,  but  he 
persisted  in  urging  me  not  to  go  to  his  store  again.  I 
replied,  with  firmness,  that,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  had 
resolved  to  turn  neither  to  the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left, 
but  would  continue  to  do  as  heretofore,  unless  prohibited 
by  those  concerned  in  the  store.  I  then  put  on  my  hat 
and  started  down  street.  I  was  very  soon  "the  observed 
of  all  observers,"  and  several  followed  me  at  a  distance, 
to  see  that  I  was  not  insulted,  or  injured  in  my  person. 
I  entered  the  store  and  asked  the  clerk  for  some  letter 
paper,  which  he  folded  up  and  handed  me;  and  after  I 
had  paid  for  it  I  stood  at  the  counter  for  a  few  minutes, 

and   then   started  out.     Mr.  ,  who  was  seated   in  a 

chair,  on  the  outside  of  the  counter,  conversing  with  some 
gentleman,  rose  up  hastily  and  followed  me.  As  I  stepped 
out  on  the  steps  he  accosted  me  as  follows,  in  a  very 
abrupt  manner:  "Are  you  Mr.  Gaddis?"  I  replied, 
"That  is  my  name,  sir."  "Well,  sir,  I  have  long  wanted 
to  have  a  conversation  with  you,  for  I  consider  you  a  very 
dangerous  man."  At  this  declaration  I  laughed  heartily, 
and  replied,  "Well,  sir,  proceed.  I  am  here  now,  and  can 
answer  for  myself."  He  became  very  pale,  and  began  to 
tremble  all  over,  and  again  repeated  the  assertion  with 
emphasis — u  I  consider  you  a  very  dangerous  man  I"  I 
then    asked   him    for  his  reasons  for  thinking  so.     Ho 


THE  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER.      201 

replied,  "You  teach  very  dangerous  doctrines,  sir."  I 
replied  promptly,  "Name  them,  if  you  please."  He  an- 
swered, with  great  emotion,  "  Sir,  you  teach  that  children 
should  disobey  their  parents."  I  replied,  "I  deny  it,  and 
call  upon  you  for  the  proof  of  your  unfounded  assertion, 
that,  either  in  public  or  private,  I  have  taught  children  to 
disregard  parental  authority."  He  then  rehearsed  all  the 
conversation  which  passed  between  his  daughter  and  my- 
self in  the  love-feast,  with  this  addition — "Join  the 
Church  any  how,  and  I  will  bear  you  out  in  all  the  conse- 
quences resulting  from  disobeying  your  father."  I  then 
stated,  so  that  all  present  could  hear  me,  that  I  had 
never  used  such  language,  and  felt  confident  that  if  his 
daughter  was  present,  she  would  assert  my  innocence,  and 
insisted  on  having  her  called  into  the  store.  This,  how- 
ever, he  refused  to  do.  I  then  told  him  plainly,  never  to 
make  such  a  charge  again  in  my  presence,  or  I  would  hold 
him  accountable  for  slander.  He  then  remarked,  that 
perhaps  it  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  C.  who  had  given  her  such 
bad  advice,  and  then  said,  "But,  sir,  I  still  regard  you  as 
a  very  dangerous  man ;  you  are  a  disturber  of  the  peace, 
and  a  setter-forth  of  strange  doctrines.  You  have  scared 
many  of  the  young  people  by  saying  things  which  are  not 
in  the  Bible."  I  replied,  "Did  you  ever  hear  any  one 
preach  who  did  not  use  some  things  not  recorded  in 
the  Bible?  How  do  you  know  what  I  preach — you 
never  come  to  hear  me?  But  I  will  now  tell  you  plainly, 
what  you  may  expect  in  the  future — that  if  preaching 
•'Christ  and  him  crucified'  disturbs  the  peace  of  society 
in  this  town,  I  expect  to  continue  this  disturbance  as  long 
as  I  remain  among  you;  and  as  to  l scaring  people/  I 
would  to  God  I  could  alarm  every  man's  conscience  so  as 
to  induce  all  to  forsake  their  sins."  "Well,  sir,"  contin- 
ued Mr. ,  "why  do  you  shout  and  make  such  a  noise 

in  your  meetings  here?     I  know  the  Methodists  do  not 


202         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

behave  so  disorderly  in  other  places."  To  this  I  replied, 
"  Methodism  is  the  same  all  the  world  over,  and  I  want 
you  to  know  this  is  a  free  country,  and  that  I  will  shout 
and  praise  Grod  whenever  I  feel  like  it,  whether  you  are 
pleased  or  displeased;  and  besides,  every  man  is  left  to 
serve  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  conscience, 
provided  he  does  not  in  so  doing  interfere  with  the  rights 
of  others."  At  this  declaration  he  trembled  somewhat 
after  the.  manner  of  one  of  the  old  kings,  till  his  knees 
smote  together.  But  recovering  himself  a  little,  he  in- 
quired next,  "Why,  sir,  did  you  dare  to  address  my 
daughter  upon  the  subject  of  religion  without  a  previous 
introduction  to  her?"  I  answered,  " Simply  because  your 
daughter  introduced  herself  to  me  first  as  a  sincere 
penitent,  I  trust."  "Where  did  she  first  speak  to 
you?"  I  replied,  "When  she  came,  in  company  with 
several  other  young  ladies,  to  obtain  a  '  note  of  admis- 
sion' into  love-feast."     Mr.  added,   "I  want  you 

to  know,  sir,  that  I  have  taken  great  pains  in  the  edu- 
cation of  my  daughter,  and  that  she  is  possessed  of  a 
fine  intellect,  and  I  do  not  intend  to  have  her  mind 
injured  by  becoming  religious  or  a  member  of  any 
Church."  My  answer  was  in  substance  as  follows:  "Re- 
ligion does  not  weaken,  but  develop  and  strengthen  the 
intellect  and  all  the  powers  of  the  soul,  and  that  it 
would  strengthen  her  mind  and  his,  too,  to  become 
truly  pious."  "But  did  I  not  tell  you,"  said  he,  "that 
you  must  let  me  and  my  family  alone?"  "To  be  sure 
you  did,  but  then  you  must  remember  that  I  will  reply 
to  all  that  you  have  to  say  against  the  religion  of  my 
blessed  Savior;  and  if  you  do  not  like  my  replies  you 
had  better  not  ask  me  any  more  questions."  He 
then  turned  round  and  went  through  the  store  into  the 
house,  apparently  in  a  great  rage,  to  the  amusement 
of  all  the  bystanders,  many  of   whom  were  intelligent 


THE    MERCHANT'S    DAUGHTER.  203 

men.  How  true  it  is  that  God  can  cause  even  the 
wrath  of  man  to  praise  him,  while  the  remainder  of 
wrath  is  restrained !  "  And  who  is  he  that  will  harm 
you,  if  ye  be  followers  of  that  which  is  good?  But  and 
if  ye  suffer  for  righteousness'  sake,  happy  are  ye  :  and 
be  not  afraid  of  their  terror,  neither  be  troubled;  but 
sanctify  the  Lord  God  in  your  hearts :  and  be  ready  always 
to  give  an  answer  to  every  man  that  asketh  you  a  reason 
of  the  hope  that  is  in  you  with  meekness  and  fear." 

The  next  day  he  reported  through  the  village,  the 
reason  why  he  did  not  give  me  the  promised  "whip- 
ping" was  that  I  " begged  for  mercy."  Poor  fellow! 
ne  could  get  none  to  believe  him,  not  only  because  the 
report  was  false,  but  credible  witnesses,  who  heard  all  that 
had  passed  had  already  given  a  correct  version  of  the  affair. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER  —  CONTINUED. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  revival  a  young  man  by  the 
name  of  R.  had  united  with  our  Church,  who  was  a  great 
favorite  of  the  gentleman  who  was  so  much  incensed  at 
his  youthful  daughter  for  desiring  to  become  a  Chris- 
tian. On  one  occasion  he  took  the  opportunity  of  saying 
to  my  young  friend,  "  Well,  R.,  you  know  I  always 
liked  you,  and  intended  to  assist  you  in  business,  but 
now  you  have  made  such  a  fool  of  yourself  in  becoming 
a  Methodist,  that  I  will  never  do  any  thing  for  you 
unless  you  leave  the  Methodist  Church.  I  want  you 
also  to   discontinue  your  visits  to  my  store   and  house 

both."     To  this  unexpected  attack  Mr.  replied  in 

the  true  spirit  of  a  Christian,  that  while  he  regretted 
to  lose  his  friendship,  he  loved  the  favor  and  friendship  of 


204  FOOT- PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

God  more;  like  one  of  old,  "choosing  rather  to  suf- 
fer affliction  with  the  people  God  than  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season;  having  respect  unto  the 
recompense  of  the  reward. "  But  perhaps  the  reader  is 
ready  to  ask,  what  has  the  history  of  this  young  man  to  do 
with  this  interesting  narrative  ?  I  answer,  "  Much  every 
way,  as  you  will  learn  from  the  sequel  of  the  story." 
At  the  time  this  young  man  joined  the  Church  the 

daughter  of  Mr.  was  present,   and  determined  to 

be  a  Christian  also.  The  persecution  of  her  father  toward 
this  young  man  increased  her  admiration  of  his  moral 
character  and  worth  every  day.  It  was  not  long  till  a 
mutual  attachment  sprang  up  between  them.  This  was 
soon  discovered  by  the  father,  who  forbade  any  inter- 
course unless  Mr. would  agree  to  leave  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  This  he  promptly  refused  to 
do ;  in  consequence  of  which  refusal,  he  was  not  allowed 
to  visit  her  father's  house  or  speak  with  her  upon  the 
street.  This  only  served  to  fan  the  flame  of  love  that 
now  existed  in  each  bosom.  M.  was  the  idol  of  her 
father,  the  eldest  daughter,  and  one  that  he  loved  more 
dearly  than  all  the  rest.  She  was  a  young  lady  of  high 
moral  worth,  and  a  great  favorite  among  all  who  knew 
her.  Her  father  was  about  to  go  east  for  the  purchase 
of  a  new  stock  of  goods.  He  invited  his  daughter  to 
go  along.  The  trip  was  pleasant,  and  he  treated  her 
with  a  degree  of  kindness  which  she  had  never  ex- 
perienced before.  He  never  mentioned  the  name  of 
her  lover  but  once  during  their  absence,  and  then  in 
rather  a  jocular  way,  on  presenting  her  with  a  new 
book.  However,  when  almost  in  sight  of  her  home, 
again  he  introduced  the  subject  so  far  as  to  ascertain 

that  her  feelings  were  still  unchanged  toward  Mr.  . 

From  that  hour  he  treated  her  with  great  unkindness 
It  was  not  loner  after  her  return  home  before  Mr.  


THE  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER.      205 

asked  the  consent  of  her  father  to  their  marriage.  He 
was  met  with  a  stern  refusal.  The  young  man  then 
reminded  him  of  a  conversation  he  had  once  held  with 
him  on  the   subject   of   matrimony;    during   which    he 

had  said,  "Mr.  ,  if  you  ever  take  a  notion  to  marry 

a  young  lady,  and  her  father  refuses  to  give  his  consent, 

HAVE  HER  OR  DIE   IN    THE  ATTEMPT!"       "Now,  sir,  I    am 

determined  to  take  your  advice,  and  marry  your  daughter 
at  all  hazards  !"  Here  the  conversation  ended,  and  they 
parted.  The  young  lady  was  watched  with  continual 
vigilance  by  her  father,  lest  she  might  in  some  way 
carry  on  a  correspondence  with  her  accepted  lover.  But 
his  efforts  were  unavailing.  About  this  time  a  mute 
came  to  reside  in  the  town  of  M.,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  the  most  of  the  young  gentlemen  and  ladies  had 
learned  the  "  deaf  and  dumb  alphabet,"  so  that  they 
could  converse  intelligibly  with  signs.  About  this  time 
our  young  friend  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  store  situated 
at  right  angles  across  the  street  from  the  residence  of 

Mr. .     By  the  aid  of  the  "deaf  and  dumb  alphabet" 

our  young  friends,  Miss and  Mr.  ,  held  daily 

communication  without  even  the  slightest  suspicion  on 
the  part  of  her  sharp-sighted  father.  They  also  kept 
up  a  regular  correspondence,  and  she  often  delivered 
her  letters  to  him  in  the  street  in  sight  of  her  father, 
without  the  knowledge  of  any  one.  They  had  fixed 
upon  a  sign,  which  was  given  in  the  following  manner : 
when  about  to  pass  each  other  on  the  side-walk,  if  she 
had  a  letter  for  him,  when  within  about  a  half  a  square, 
she  would  place  her  right  hand  upon  her  bosom;  he 
would  then  take  off  his  hat  and  carry  it  carelessly  in 
his  hand,  swinging  it  back  and  forward  at  his  side  till 
they  would  draw  very  near  to  each  other,  and  then  she 
would  drop  the  letter  in  his  hat  while  in  the  act  of 
passing  on   the   side-walk,   without  speaking  a  word   or 


206  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

even  halting  for  a  moment.  Her  father  took  out  of  her 
room  her  fine  traveling-trunk,  and  placed  in  its  stead  an 
old  hair  trunk  from  the  store-room,  without  lock  or  key 
upon  it.  He  would  not  allow  her  even  to  keep  a  sheet  of 
paper,  pen,  or  ink,  or  to  have  a  lighted  candle  in  her  bed- 
chamber after  dark.  Most  of  her  letters  were  written 
by  moonlight,  after  the  family  had  all  retired  to  rest. 
Another  expedient  was  adopted  for  conveying  her  letters 
to  him.  She  would  sit  at  her  window  up  stairs  with 
her  letter  in  her  hand  late  in  the  evening  when  but  few 
were  walking  the  streets.  She  would  recognize  the  ap- 
proach of  her  devoted by  his  being  seized  with  a  pe- 
culiar fit  of  coughing  just  before  he  came  near  her  father's 
dwelling.  She  would  then  place  her  hand  outside  of 
the  window  up  stairs  and  wait  till  he  would  stop  on  the 
pavement  below  where  she  would  drop  the  letter  just  be- 
fore him  on  the  side-walk,  where  he  could  readily  pick  it 
up  without  halting  but  a  moment.  She  artfully  con- 
cealed his  letters  about  her  person  so  that  they  were 
never  discovered  by  any  of  the  family.  Heretofore  she 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  assisting  her  father  in  the 
store,  but  he  now  prohibited  her  even  from  visiting  the 
store-room,  and  refused  to  give  her  any  more  new  cloth- 
ing. She  then  sent  her  best  clothes  to  the  house  of  a 
friend,  who  conveyed  them  in  safety  to  her  affianced  lover. 
He  made  a  fine  bureau  and  placed  them  in  it,  which 
article  of  furniture  they  still  retain  in  their  own  family 
to  the  present  day.  I  was  removed  to  a  city  station  the 
next  year,  and  did  not  hear  from  them  for  a  long  time. 

At  length  brother called  on  me  to  inform  me  that, 

as  it  was  nearly  twelve  months  yet  before  Miss was 

of  age,  they  had  concluded  to  "run  away  and  get 
married  as  soon  as  possible. "  We  talked  over  the 
matter,  and  finally  I  persuaded  him  to  desist  from  such 
an  unpleasant  undertaking,  and  to  wait  till  she  was  of 


THE  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER.      207 

age.  Shortly  after  this  Mr.  —  discovered  the  intentions 
of  his  daughter  more  fully,  and  called  her  into  the  room 
one  day  and  asked  her  if  it  was  true  that  she  intended 
to  marry  Mr.  as  soon  as  she  was  of  age?  She  re- 
plied, "Yes,  father,  I  do."  He  then  became  dreadfully 
enraged,  and  said,  with  a  voice  and  manner  that  almost 
frightened  her  out  of  her  senses  for  a  moment,  "M., 
if  it  was  not  for  the  laws  of  my  country  I  would  shoot 
you  dead  at  my  feet."  Time  rolled  rapidly  away,  and 
nothing  occurred  to  alter  her  mind  in  the  least.  She 
was  well   persuaded   that  the  opposition   of   her   father 

arose  from  the  simple  fact  that  Mr.  had  joined  the 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  now  appointed  a 
class-leader.  This  made  her  love  him  the  more;  and  she 
prayed  to  God  day  and  night  that  he  would  make  her  a 
partaker  of  "  like  precious  faith"  with  him  whom  she  now 
so  dearly  loved. 

About  two  weeks  previous  to  the  time  that  her  father 
thought  her  of  age  he  said  to  her,  "If  you  are   going 

to  marry  Mr.  ,  do  not  run  away,  but  many  him  at 

home,  and  then  leave  my  house  forever.  And  after 
your  marriage  you  must  never  cross  my  threshold,  even 
in  a  time  of  sickness  or  death!  Do  you  understand 
what  I  say?"  She  meekly  replied,  "  Yes,  fatlier,  I  know 
it  all" 

He  then  brought  down  the  old  hair  trunk,  and  told 
her  to  pack  up  her  clothes,  which  she  did  in  the  presence 
of  her  father,  mother,  and  sisters.  And  as  she  told 
me,  when  they  were  all  in,  "they  resembled  the  wardrobe 
of  a  pauper"  more  than  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy 
merchant.  In  the  evening  her  little  sister  clung  to  her 
with  an  affectionate  tenderness  that  almost  broke  he* 
heart.  The  next  day  she  left  home  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  her  wedding.  On  her  return  her  father  never 
invit-ed  her  to   eat,  but  would   call   all  the  rest  of  his 


208  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

children  by  name  to  come  to  the  table.  For  one  whole 
day  she  did  not  taste  food.  And,  to  cap  the  climax  of 
his  cruelty,  a  few  days  before  he  thought  her  of  age  he 
ordered  her  away,  and  in  the  most  abrupt  and  repulsive 
manner.  She  then  went  to  her  aunt's  to  make  arrange- 
ments for  her  wedding,  which  took  place  soon  after  she  be- 
came of  age.  Her  father  destroyed  the  old  family  record, 
and  entered  all  the  rest  of  the  names  of  his  children 
in  a  new  place,  omitting  the  name  of  his  beloved  and 
eldest  child  M.;  and  it  is  said,  when  asked  how  many 
children  he  had  living,  always  refused  to  reckon  her 
among  the  number  of  the  household. 

God  smiled  upon  her  marriage  union,  and  her  husband 
was  prospered  in  his  business.  They  commenced  keeping 
house  within  about  a  half  square  from  the  residence  of 
her  persecuting  father,  where  she  could  see  him  passing 
her  door  almost  every  hour  of  the  day.  I  must  now 
take  leave  of  them  just  at  this  point  in  their  history,  to 
present  the  reader  with  another  side  of  this  picture. 

From  the  time  I  began  my  ministry  in  the  town  of 
M.,  this  man,  who  was  so  unkind  to  his  daughter,  did 
all  that  he  could  do  to  oppose  the  progress  of  the  Gos- 
pel. I  told  him  on  one  occasion  I  was  afraid  the  judg- 
ments of  the  Almighty  would  overtake  him  unless  he 
repented  and  ceased  to  oppose  the  truth.  And  after 
his  last  act  of  unnatural  treatment  of  a  lovely  daughter, 
we  may  date  his  decline  in  worldly  prosperity.  Here- 
tofore every  thing  prospered  in  his  hands,  but  now  loss 
succeeded  loss,  and  disappointment  followed  disappoint- 
ment till  he  was  compelled  to  acknowledge  that  the  hand 
of  God  was  chastising  him. 

How  mysterious  are  the  ways  of  Providence !  0  how 
often  had  I  prayed  to  God  to  bring  his  child  into  the 
Church  of  her  choice!  But  I  little  expected  to  have 
that  pleasure  myself.     A  few  months  after  her  marriage 


THE  MERCHANT'S  DAUGHTER.      209 

she   attended   a   camp  meeting  near  the   city  of , 

where  I  was  then  stationed.  I  did  not  know  she  was 
there.  At  the  close  of  an  interesting  sermon  I  exhorted, 
and  then  opened  the  doors  of  the  Church.  Many  joined, 
and  among  the  number  that  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  audience  was  Mrs.  R.  She  came  forward  and  gave 
her  hand,  and  then  fell  down  upon  her  knees  and  wept 
aloud.  In  a  short  time  a  gentleman  from  M.  approached 
me  and  inquired  if  I  recognized  the  one  who  came 
forward  last.  I  told  him  I  did  not.  "That,"  said  he, 
"is  Mrs.  R ,  formerly  Miss  S.,  who,  years  ago,  was  awak- 
ened under  your  ministry,  but  forbidden  by  her  father 
to  go  any  longer  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church." 
My  feelings  were  indescribable,  and  I  shouted  aloud  for 
joy,  and  gave  the  congregation  a  short  history  of  the 
trials  through  which  she  had  passed  before  she  was 
privileged  to  enter  the  Church  of  God.  From  that  hour 
she  was  truly  decided  in  her  Christian  course.  She 
returned  to  her  home  of  love,  and  almost  for  a  season 
forgot  the  sufferings  and  cruelties  of  her  father  previous 
to  her  marriage. 

In  about  twelve  months  she  gave  birth  to  a  beautiful 
daughter,  which  was  greatly  beloved  by  all  of  her  con- 
nections. The  little  prattler  was  taught  the  name  of  its 
grandfather,  and  when  old  enough  to  walk  the  streets 
would  run  against  him  and  call  his  name.  For  a  long 
time  he  repulsed  it  with  great  coldness.  But  at  length 
his  iron  nature  yielded,  and  when  unobserved  by  his 
daughter  he  would  pick  up  the  child  and  caress  her  fondly. 
But  this  sweet  bud  of  promise  was  taken  suddenly  ill, 
and  died.  Before  its  death  the  grandparents  were  sent 
for  to  see  it  die.  The  grandmother  came,  but  Mr.  — 
refused  to  attend  its  funeral.  His  cold-hearted  nature 
would  not  yield;  and  when  the  child  was  buried  he 
brought  down  upon  him  the  maledictions  of  the  whole 

18 


210  FOOT -PRINTS     OF     AN     ITINERANT. 

community.     The  death  of  this  child  occurred  a  short 

time  before  Mr.  —  moved  to  the  city  of  .     While 

the  heart  of  his  daughter  was  bleeding  on  the  account 
of  the  death  of  her  first-born,  some  of  her  friends 
advised  her  to  go  over  and  see  him  before  his  removal. 
She  finally  yielded  to  their  importunities  against  her 
better  judgment,  and  went  to  see  him.  She  was  near 
him  before  he  observed  her  presence.  She  laid  her 
hand  upon  his  arm  and  exclaimed,  " Father!  0,  father  ! 
father !"  She  could  add  no  more.  He  rudely  thrust  her 
away  with  his  elbow,  and  refused  to  speak  or  even  pro- 
nounce her  name.  She  returned  to  her  desolate  home 
with  a  heart  bleeding  afresh  at  every  pore;  but  God 
healed  her  wounded  heart,  and  caused  her  spirit  to  re- 
joice because  of  his  goodness.  Time  rolled  rapidly 
away,  and  for  seven  long  years  she  was  not  in  her 
father's  house.  Her  mother  was  taken  ill,  and  died. 
She  desired  to  see  her  daughter,  Mrs.  R.  As  soon  as 
her  daughter  received  the  sad  news  she  started  for  the 
city  to  see  her  mother  die.  "When  she  arrived  at  the 
residence  of  her  father,  she  refused  to  go  in  unless 
he  would  invite  her,  as  he  had  positively  forbidden 
her  entrance  even  in  a  time  of  sickness  or  death.  The 
messenger  returned  with  this  answer,  "Tell  her  to  come 
in  if  she  wants  to."  She  entered  the  dying  chamber 
of  her  mother  a  few  minutes  before  she  expired.  Her 
father  on  seeing  her  said,  "0,  Mary!  Mary!"  This  was 
the  last  time  he  ever  was  heard  to  pronounce  her  name. 
He  has  never  spoken  to  her  from  that  time  up  to  this 
day,  for  no  other  offense  than  that  of  marrying  a  relig 
ious  man. 


A    DEBATE    ON    U  N  I  V  E  R  S  A  L  I  S  M  .  211 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

A    DEBATE    OX    UNIVERSALIS  M. 

In  1838  Rev.  Robert  Smith,  a  Universalist  preacher, 
living  in  Mason,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  preached  every 
four  weeks  in  the  town  of  New  Richmond,  Clermont 
county,  Ohio.  He  frequently,  at  the  close  of  his  ser- 
mons, challenged  any  orthodox  minister  to  meet  him  in 
debate.  Finally,  Rev.  Mr.  Atmore,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  residing  within  about  three  miles  of 
that  place,  accepted  the  challenge.  Mr.  Atmore  was  a 
high-toned  Englishman,  a  good  preacher,  and  had  only 
been  about  twelve  months  in  America.  The  prelimina- 
ries were  all  arranged,  and  the  parties  met,  on  the  first 
Monday  of  April,  in  the  town  of  New  Richmond,  on 
the  Ohio  river.  The  debate  commenced  at  11  o'clock, 
A.  M.  Mr.  Atmore  opened  the  discussion,  and  Mr. 
Smith  followed;  but  before  they  had  proceeded  far,  Mr. 
Atmore  became  disgusted  at  the  personalities  of  his 
opponent,  and  especially  with  the  irreverent  manner  in 
which  he  handled  the  Scriptures.  He  remarked  in 
substance  as  follows : 

"My  Audience, — In  accepting  a  challenge  from  Mr. 
Smith,  I,  of  course,  supposed  that  he  was  a  courteous 
debater,  and  would  demean  himself  with  gentlemanly 
bearing  toward  his  antagonist;  but  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
I  am  greatly  disappointed  in  this  respect,  and  self- 
respect  compels  me  not  to  prolong  a  debate  with  so 
irreverent  and  discourteous  an  antagonist." 

On  closing  these  remarks,  he  bowed  himself  politely 
oat  of  the  pulpit,  picked  up  his  hat,  and  took  his  de- 
parture for  home.  Mr.  Smith  construed  Mr.  Atmore's 
conduct  into  the  weakness  of  his  cause,   and  the   want 


212         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

of  ability  to  sustain  himself  in  the  debate.  The  meet- 
ing was  adjourned  till  some  time  in  the  afternoon.  Mr. 
David  Fisher,  a  layman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  who  resided  nine  miles  above  New  Richmond, 
came  down  to  attend  the  debate.  On  entering  the 
church,  at  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  Mr.  Smith  was  speaking. 
He  soon  afterward  remarked  that,  as  Mr.  Atmore  de- 
clined to  discuss  the  subject  any  longer,  he  should  pro- 
ceed to  give  his  own  \riews  at  length.  After  speaking 
for  nearly  an  hour,  a  Universalist  gentleman  went  into 
the  pulpit,  and  whispered  something  in  the  ear  of  the 
speaker.  Mr.  Smith  soon  stopped  for  a  moment,  and 
remarked  that  he  was  informed  that  there  was  a  Meth- 
odist minister  present,  who  would,  probably,  take  Mr. 
Atmore's  place,  and  go  on  with  the  discussion.  No  one 
replied.  This  friend  of  Mr.  Smith's  went  into  the  pul- 
pit, and  spoke  to  him  again,  Mr.  Smith  then  remarked 
that  he  alluded  to  Mr.  Fisher.  Mr.  Fisher  then  arose, 
and  remarked  that  he  was  not  a  minister,  and,  conse- 
quently, did  not  suppose  that  the  allusion  was  to  him ; 
he  was  a  layman  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  came  down  there,  as  a  high  private,  to  hear,  and 
not  to  take  any  part  in  the  discussion.  He  also  stated 
that  he  was  entirely  unprepared;  that  he  had  no  refer- 
ence-books, not  even  his  Bible.  Mr.  Smith  had,  no 
doubt,  been  a  long  time  preparing  for  this  debate,  and 
it  would  not  be  doing  justice  to  the  cause  or  to  himself, 
to  enter  upon  this  debate  now;  but  if  Mr.  Smith  desired 
it,  he  would  reply,  in  one  speech,  to  all  he  had  just  said, 
and  would  be  happy  to  meet  Mr.  Smith  in  debate  at 
some  future  time.  To  this  Mr.  Smith  cordially  assented, 
and  the  arrangements  were  soon  completed.  Mr.  Smith 
then  asked  his  opponent  when  he  would  be  ready.  Mr. 
Fisher  replied,  "I  am  a  farmer,  and  must  plant  my  corn, 
after  which  I  care  not  how  soon  the  time  is  fixed;  I  will 


A    DEBATE    ON    UNIVERSALIS*!.  213 

try  and  be  ready."  Mr.  Smith  replied,  -'Give  yourself 
time,  Mr.  Fisher;  get  your  work  out  of  the  way,  for  I 
do  not  know  how  long  I  will  keep  you  here  after  we 
commence;  for  I  am  determined  to  have  my  full  satis- 
faction out  of  orthodoxy  before  we  part."  Mr.  Fisher 
good-humoredly  replied  to  this  braggadocio  speech,  "I 
only  desire  time,  Mr.  Smith,  to  plant  my  corn;  I  suppose 
you  will  let  me  return  home  to  cut  my  wheat  harvest, 
will  you  not?"  * 

The  time  finally  agreed  upon  was  the  second  Monday 
in  May.  As  the  Rev.  R.  Smith  lived  in  the  bounds  of 
my  circuit  at  the  time,  I  made  my  arrangements  to  at- 
tend this  debate.  It  was  published  far  and  near,  all 
over  the  country;  and  as  the  circumstances  and  char- 
acter of  the  debaters  were  well  known,  at  the  appointed 
time  a  large  crowd  was  attracted  to  the  little  town  of 
New  Richmond.  I  arrived  there  in  good  time  for  the 
opening  of  the  controversy.  The  Rev.  Andrew  M'Clain, 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  acted  as  moderator 
on  the  behalf  of  brother  Fisher.  They  had  agreed  upon 
two  distinct  propositions.  Of  the  first,  Mr.  Fisher  had 
the  affirmative,  and  of  the  second  proposition  Mr.  Smith 
the  negative.  The  debate  was  held  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  which  was  crowded  to  its  utmost 
capacity  during  the  whole  of  the  controversy.  Mr. 
Smith  had  not  such  a  smooth  road  to  travel  as  he  ex- 
pected. He  soon  found  out  that  his  opponent  was  a 
" prince  in  disguise" — a  most  formidable  controversial- 
ist, possessing  most  admirable  qualities  for  a  good  de- 
bater, correct  knowledge  of  the  subject,  perfect  self- 
control,  and  remarkable  powers  of  condensation,  just 
saying  enough  on  each  point,  and  not  one  word  more. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day,  our  attention  was 
diverted  from  the  debaters,  by  the  strange  request  of  the 
Rev    D.  Parker,  who  resides  a  short  distance  above  the 


214         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

town  of  New  Richmond.  He  asked  permission  of  the 
moderators  to  preach  a  sermon  on  that  evening,  contain- 
ing his  peculiar  views.  He  then  remarked,  as  he  occu- 
pied "middle-ground"  between  the  present  disputants^ 
he  thought  the  audience  ought  to  hear  him.  I  arose, 
and  remarked  I  supposed  there  could  be  no  objection  to 
his  request,  provided  some  of  us  present  should  have  the 
privilege  of  replying.  To  this,  however,  he  strongly 
objected,  declaring  that  he  had  lost  all  taste  and  desire 
for  public  controversy,  but  hoped  his  old  friends  and 
neighbors  in  New  Richmond  would  allow  him  to  preach 
them  a  sermon  in  that  house  at  early  candle-light.  He 
finally  obtained  permission  by  a  vote  of  the  audience. 
He  took  for  his  text,  "  Study  to  show  thyself  approved 
unto  God."  2  Timothy  ii,  15.  He  commenced  by  re- 
marking as  follows : 

"  If  my  faith  is  right  others  are  wrong.  He  had  seen 
a  difficulty  all  the  way,  while  listening  to  Messrs.  Smith 
and  Fisher,  and  was  exceedingly  happy  to  have  the  priv- 
ilege of  setting  all  right  upon  the  important  subject  now 
under  consideration."  He  then  told  us  there  was  "no 
threatening  of  death  beyond  the  present  life  in  the  Old 
Testament ;  that  Adam,  by  transgression,  only  lost  com- 
munion with  God.  The  word  infinite  was  only  men- 
tioned three  times  in  the  Old  Testament — Job,  Nahum. 
and  145th  Psalm.  The  soul  was  not  immortal  by  nature, 
only  as  it  was  united  to  Christ  as  the  branch  in  the  vine. 
There  was  a  difference  between  the  word  and  revelation; 
the  one  was  the  letter,  the  other  the  spirit.  The  Bible 
was  never  made  flesh ;  the  Bible  is  the  scabbard  of  the 
sword."  He  said  "the  world  was  suffering  greatly  for 
the  want  of  this  idea.  There  were  but  two  distinct  king- 
doms; one  belonged  to  God,  the  other  to  Jesus  Christ — 
one  eternal,  the  other  mediatorial — no  immortal  devils — 
soul  of  the  righteous  sleeps  till  after  the  resurrection." 


A    DEBATE    ON    UNIVERSALIS  M,  215 

These  were  the  prominent  thoughts  of  the  discourse, 
which  lasted  over  an  hour.  It  was  pronounced,  by  the 
majority,  a  most  signal  failure.  I  admired  his  zeal  more 
than  his  knowledge  of  the  word  of  God.  He  offered  to 
bet  his  farm  three  or  four  times  during  the  sermon,  or 
give  not  only  his  farm,  but  all  his  personal  effects,  also; 
to  any  one  present,  who  would  convince  him  that  he  was 
wrong.  (?)  From  the  zeal  he  manifested  that  night,  I 
feared  he  would  be  as  difficult  to  "  convince "  as  an  old 
Dutchman,  of  whom  I  had  read,  was  to  beat  in  a  foot- 
race. His  friend  outran  him  three  times  in  quick  suc- 
cession, and  then  said,  "Now,  Mr.  ,  you  will  ac- 
knowledge that  I  can  beat  you  running,  will  you  not?" 
"  0,  no,  sir,"  replied  his  German  friend;  "I  never  ac- 
knowledges I'se  peat  till  I  gives  up,  and,  py  sure,  I  never 
gives  up  !  Let  us  run  again."  At  any  rate,  the  old 
"restoration"  parson  has  so  managed  as  to  retain  his 
farm,  and  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  "green  old  age," 
much  respected  by  his  neighbors. 

In  closing  his  sermon,  he  said  that  he  was  often  asked 
this  question  :  "  Why  is  religion  necessary  at  all,  if  your 
doctrine  of  'final  restoration'  be  true?"  "My  answer," 
said  he,  "is  this:  I  think  there  is  about  the  same  differ- 
ence as  there  would  be  between  a  passage  from  here  to 
the  Queen  City  on  one  of  our  excellent  steam-packets, 
and  traveling  on  foot  by  the  way  of  Bethel,  Batavia,  and 
Milford.  The  'packet'  route  is  short,  direct,  and  safe, 
with  good  accommodations ;  the  other,  <  on  foot,'  rough, 
out  of  the  way,  a  longer  route,  and  difficult  to  perform 
the  journey."  The  application  was  very  easy,  and  I 
replied,  in  an  under  tone,  "  Take  to  the  packet  at  the 
wharf,  every  one  of  you  I  The  last  hell  may  now  be  ring- 
ing /"  Thus  ended  this  pleasant  little  episode.  The 
old  gentleman  seemed  much  gratified,  and  we  all  re- 
turned to  our  lodgings,  without  any  change  in  our  views 


216         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

as  to  heaven  and  hell,  or  future  rewards  and  punish- 
ments. 

The  next  morning  the  church  was  crowded  at  an  early 
hour,  and  the  debate  proceeded  regularly  till  about  11 
o'clock,  when  Mr.  Smith  remarked  to  his  opponent  that 
he  did  not  think  it  would  be  necessary  to  prolong  the 
debate  through  another  day;  that  he  could  say  all  he 
desired  in  one  or  two  speeches  more.  This  announce- 
ment produced  quite  a  sensation  in  the  audience,  while 
defeat  was  already  plainly  written  on  the  face  of  Mr. 
Smith.  Mr.  Fisher  replied,  "I  have  no  objection  to 
your  closing  your  remarks  to-day;  but,  as  I  am  now  fol- 
lowing your  tracks,  I  stand  here  prepared  to  refute  all 
the  arguments  you  have  to  bring,  just  as  long  as  you 
have  a  word  to  utter."  Mr.  Smith  then  said  he  would 
close  with  two  speeches  more  in  the  afternoon. 

As  brother  M'Clain  was  compelled  to  go  home,  I  was 
chosen  to  act  as  moderator  in  his  place.  This  brought 
me  near  the  speakers,  and  also  gave  me  a  good  oppor- 
tunity to  take  notes  of  the  debate  and  all  that  transpired 
on  that  day. 

It  was  evident,  to  all  parties  present,  that  Mr.  Fisher 
had  his  antagonist  by  the  "  horns,"  and  he  was  making 
many  doleful  sounds.  Mr.  Fisher's  closing  speech  was  a 
logical  and  masterly  effort,  such  as  would  have  done 
honor  to  the  head  and  heart  of  the  ablest  theologian  in 
America.  His  personal  appeal  to  his  opponent,  Mr. 
Smith,  was  a  "word  in  season,"  and  it  was  received  in  the 
same  spirit  of  kindness  in  which  it  was  given.  I  shall 
never  forget  it.  His  address  to  the  audience,  and  his 
timely  warning  to  the  young  to  beware  of  such  a  dan- 
gerous heresy,  moved  all  present  to  tears. 

"I  have  seen,"  said  Mr.  Fisher,  "its  ruinous  effects  on 
many  of  my  neighbors.  It  has  destroyed  them  soul  and 
body;  it  will  do  you  no  good  in  the  dying  hour.     Do 


A    DEBATE     OX     UNIVERSALISM.  217 

take  tlie  safe  way.  Seek  and  obtain  an  interest  in  the 
Savior;  lead  a  life  of  holiness  and  self-denial,  and  then 
you  will  certainly  escape  that  hell  of  endless  woe  which 
was  originally  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels.'' 
And  then,  turning  to  Mr.  Smith,  he  said,  "lam  now 
done;"  and,  with  a  look  of  compassion  and  tenderness 
for  an  erring  fellow-mortal  that  I  never  beheld  before 
or  since,  he  continued  to  remark,  '• 1  must  now  bid  you 
and  this  audience  /areweUi  I  may  never  see  you  again 
till  we  all  meet  at  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ,  where 
each  of  us  'must  give  account  of  himself  to  God.'  0, 
then,  sir,  when  the  'Judge  of  quick  and  dead'  shall  pro- 
nounce your  doom,  among  the  rest,  and  say,  'Depart,  go 
away  into  everlasting  punishment !'  it  will  be  too  late 
then  to  rise  up  and  say  to  Him  that  '  sits  upon  the 
throne/  'Stop,  there  is  no  eternal  punishment  for  met 
the  Bible  taught  me  that  all  mankind  would  be  raised  to 
a  state  of  final  holiness  and  happiness  after  death.'  Mr. 
Smith,  if  you  die  in  this  belief,  you  are  a  ruined  man ! 
I  beseech  you,  renounce  your  false  system,  and  embrace 
the  only  way  of  life  and  salvation  \"  Mr.  Fisher  then 
resumed  his  seat. 

Mr.  Smith  then  arose,  and  thanked  Mr.  Fisher  for  his 
gentlemanly  conduct  during  the  debate,  and  also  for  the 
interest  he  had  just  manifested  in  his  future  welfare; 
and  then,  turning  to  the  audience,  he  said,  "I  have  held 
a  number  of  debates  with  clergymen  of  different  denom- 
inations in  the  east  and  west;  and,  not  many  years  ago,  I 
debated  with  Rev.  Mr.  Waterman  and  Rev.  S.  A.  Latta, 
M.  D.,  both  distinguished  Methodist  clergymen,  all  of 
whom  were  children  in  debate,  when  compared  with  my 
sood  friend,  Mr.  David  Fisher,  with  whom  I  have  con- 
troverted  for  the  last  few  days.  Indeed,  gentlemen  and 
ladies,  I  frankly  confess  he  has  done  the  best  for  a  bad 
cause  of  any  man  that  I  ever  'broke  a  lance  with.'  "     I 

19 


218         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

have  often  said  to  my  friends,  and  I  will  now  record  it 
here,  that  it  will  ever  be  a  matter  of  regret  with  me  that 
I  did  not,  at  that  moment,  set  out  one  of  the  benches 
in  the  altar,  and  u call  up  the  mourners." 

I  think  Mr.  Smith  was  then  powerfully  convicted  by 
the  Spirit  of  God,  as  well  as  many  others  in  that  atten- 
tive assembly.  I  believe  now  great  good  might  have 
resulted  from  such  a  winding  up  of  that  debate.  I 
know  it  is  often  said  that  nothing  is  gained  for  truth 
and  the  cause  of  God  by  public  controversy.  I  do  not 
subscribe  to  this  statement  altogether.  God  can  make 
the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him."  Certainly  great  good 
resulted  from  this  controversy  in  the  town  of  New  Rich- 
mond. Xot  long  afterward,  Mr.  Smith  himself  re- 
nounced Universalism,  and  is  now  a  minister  among  the 
Campbellite  Baptists. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

SABBATH     DESECRATION. 

The  gentleman  with  whom  Rev.  Robert  Smith  boarded, 
Mr.  F.,  was  a  stanch  Universalist.  He  was  the  keeper  of 
a  hotel,  and  kept  on  hand  a  large  supply  of  intoxicating 
liquors.  The  Universalists  in  the  bounds  of  W.  circuit 
were  all  lamentably  deficient  even  in  good  morals.  Many, 
indeed,  were  noted  for  profanity,  gambling,  intemper- 
ance, and  their  utter  disregard  for  the  Christian  Sab- 
bath. This  same  gentleman  owned  a  saw-mill,  which 
was  erected  close  to  the  village  of  Mason,  on  a  small, 
thundergust  stream.  It  had  been  his  practice,  for  a  long 
time,  whenever  a  shower  of  rain  filled  the  race  with  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  water,  to  run  the  mill  on  the  Sab- 
bath-day.    My  colleague,   Rev.  H.,  who  resided  in  the 


SABBATH    DESECRATION.  219 

place,  was  frequently  asked,  by  strangers,  if  the  citizens 
of  Mason  approved  of  the  conduct  of  their  fellow-towns- 
man in  running  his  saw-mill  on  the  Sabbath  day.  To 
this  question  he  always  returned  a  negative  answer. 
"  Why,  then,  do  you  not  put  a  stop  to  this  reproach?" 
He  answered,  "I  will  try." 

On  his  return  home,  on  a  certain  occasion,  he  went  to 
the  owner  of  the  mill,  and  requested  him  to  desist  from 
pursuing  a  course  of  conduct  so  offensive  to  his  neigh- 
bors, and  in  violation  of  the  statutes  of  Ohio.  Mr.  F. 
replied  that  he  would  saw  just  when  he  pleased,  and 
that  he  did  not  believe  in  legal  restrictions  concerning  the 
Sabbath  any  how. 

The  next  Sabbath  he  run  the  saw-mill  as  usual.  My 
colleague  went  before  Squire  D.,  and  made  a  formal  com- 
plaint, on  behalf  of  the  state,  against  the  owner  of  this 
mill.  On  the  day  of  trial,  Mr.  F.  acknowledged  that  he 
owned  the  mill,  and  that  it  was  run  by  his  orders.  He 
was  also  often  seen  at  the  mill,  and  sometimes  going  to 
and  from  it  with  carpenter's  tools  under  his  arm;  but 
the  sapient  justice,  D.,  rendered  a  verdict  in  favor  of  the 
defendant,  because  no  one  would  say  that  Mr.  F.  "  started 
the  mill  every  time"  it  was  seen  in  operation!  This 
decision  was  ridiculed  and  pronounced  unjust  even  by 
the  friends  of  Mr.  D. 

However,  not  long  after  the  trial,  a  lengthy  article 
appeared  in  the  "Star  of  the  West,"  written  by  Rev. 
Robert  Smith,  censuring  the  Methodist  preacher  for 
"persecuting"  Mr.  F.,  a  man  of  good  moral  character.  (?) 
When  this  statement  was  read  to  Mr.  F.,  by  one  of  his 
neighbors,  he  seemed  to  be  perfectly  delighted  with  all 
that  his  minister  had  said  about  the  affair,  except  that 
the  defendant  was  a  "  man  of  good  moral  character." 
On  hearing  this  read,  he  jumped  up,  and,  scratching  his 
head  most  violently,  said,  "0,  my  God!  I  wish  he  had 


220  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

said  nothing  on  that  subject,  for  I  am  quite  sure  there 
is  not  a  man  of  my  acquaintance,  in  the  town  or  country, 
that  will  believe  one  word  of  it."  His  own  conscience 
told  him  it  was  false.  This  whole  matter  became  a  topic 
of  conversation  among  all  classes  in  that  section  of 
country. 

My  colleague  was  an  "old  warrior,"  though  young  in 
years.  He  still  kept  a  watchful  eye  over  his  old  friend, 
who  seemed  to  be  overjoyed  at  his  unlooked-for  acquittal 
by  the  Universalist  magistrate,  Mr.  D.  A  few  weeks 
afterward,  on  the  day  that  my  colleague  preached  in  31., 
the  mill  was  seen  running  all  day;  but  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  approaching  near  enough  to  detect  the 
violators  of  the  holy  Sabbath.  The  Rev.  Mr.  H.  went 
home,  extinguished  all  the  lights  about  his  dwelling,  and 
retired  to  bed.  About  ten  o'clock  he  arose  and  dressed 
himself,  and  walked  deliberately  up  the  small  stream  till 
he   approached   near  enough   to   see   the   "tender,"   Mr. 

,  start  the  saw-mill.     He  also  discovered  the  owner, 

Mr.  F.,  sitting  there  reading  a  newspaper,  and  now  and 
then  assisting  in  performing  the  labors  of  sawyer.  Not 
long  after  he  arrived,  the  mill  was  stopped,  and  the  saw- 
yer commenced  sharpening  the  saw  with  a  file.  Brother 
H.  then  climbed  up  on  the  shaft  connecting  the  saw  and 
water-wheel  together,  till  he  had  a  distinct  view  of  the 
personal  appearance  of  the  man  actually  engaged  in 
working  at  the  mill.  He  then,  unobserved,  returned  to 
his  home,  determined,  if  spared,  to  give  them  another 
"trial"  during  the  week. 

The  next  day,  however,  he  ascertained  that  Mr.  R  had 
rented  his  mill  to  a  man  by  the  name  of  H.  K.,  who  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Universalist  society  in  M.  The 
prosecution  was  now  brought  against  H.  K„  before  Squire 
B.,  a  short  distance  from  the  village,  a  man  of  unflinch- 
ing integrity.     The  owner  of  the  mill  and  the  sawyer 


SABBATH    DESECRATION.  221 

were  summoned  as  witnesses  on  behalf  of  the  state.  At 
the  appointed  time,  a  large  crowd  assembled  to  witness 
the  trial.  Mr.  F.  was  first  brought  upon  the  stand  and 
examined.  He  instantly  confessed  the  truth  of  the 
allegation.  The  sawyer  was  sworn  next,  but  denied 
that  he  knew  any  thing  about  it  that  would  go  to  con- 
demn the  defendant;  but  upon  a  strict  cross-examina- 
tion, the   following  facts  were  brought  to  light :  Squire 

B.  said,  "Mr.  H.,  did  you  see  Mr.  ,  the  sawyer,  at 

work  on  the  day  specified  in  this  charge  ?"  Answer. — 
"  Yes,  sir,  I  did."  Question. — "  Do  you  recollect  the 
color  of  his  coat  V  Answer. — "I  do;  it  was  black." 
Here  the  sawyer  jumped  to  his  feet,  in  a  rage,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Xo,  sir,  it  was  not;  I  wore  a  blue  coat!" 
Mr.  H.  then  asked  the  justice  if  this  admission  was  not 
enough  to  satisfy  all  present  of  his  guilt.  "But,"  said 
my  colleague,  u  I  wish  to  ask  you  another  question,  Mr. 

:  If  you  had  known  that  I  was  holding  on  to  the 

shaft  below,  and  looking  up  in  your  face  while  you  were 
engaged  in  sharpening  the  saw,  you  would  have  let  the 
water  on  the  wheel,  and  started  the  mill  instantly,  would 
you  not?"  "Xo,  sir;  but  if  I  had  only  known  that  you 
were  there  that  night,  I  would  have  dropped  the  file  in 
your  face,  and  then  would  have  come  down  and  given 
you  a  good  thrashing,  such  as  you  deserved."  At  this 
second  admission,  the  spectators  laughed  most  heartily, 
and  said,  "Well,  boys,  you  are  caught  at  last — fairly 
beaten  at  your  own  game.  Hurrah  for  the  Methodist 
preacher!  he  has  outwitted  the  whole  of  them."  A 
judgment  was  rendered  against  the  defendant,  the  fine 
and  cost  of  suit  announced,  the  parties  retired,  and  I 
never  heard  of  the  little  saw-mill  in  M.  cutting  timber 
on  the  holy  Sabbath  again.  So  much  for  legal  suasion 
in  favor  of  the  Sabbath. 

Rev.   Robert   Smith    and  his  host  were  sadly  disap- 


222        TOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

pointed  in  the  result  of  the  last  trial  about  the  saw-mill. 
This  reverend  divine  had  rather  a  singular  and  incon- 
sistent method  of  preparing  for  a  debate.  A  young; 
lady,  who  lived  in  the  family  where  he  boarded,  related 
the  following  remarkable  facts  concerning  this  great 
champion  of  the  Universalists  in  the  Miami  Valley 
Instead  of  taking  the  time  and  trouble  to  copy  out  of 
the  Bible  his  proof-texts,  he  cut  out,  with  a  pair  of  scis- 
sors, such  portions  as  he  desired  to  quote,  and  pasted  them 
on  blank  cards  procured  for  that  special  purpose.  In 
this  way  he  would  destroy  a  dozen  of  Bibles  and  New 
Testaments  in  a  week.  The  precious  word  of  God,  thus 
mutilated,  was  ordered  to  be  carried  out  of  his  room, 
and  cast  away  in  the  back  yard.  Surely,  no  man,  who 
had  a  proper  reverence  for  the  word  of  God,  would  treat 
it  in  this  manner. 

The  following  note  from  my  old  colleague,  Rev.  H., 
furnishes  the  last  intelligence  of  this  erring  man,  Rev. 
R.  Smith: 

"  In  the  fall  of  1850,  I  was  appointed,  by  Bishop  An- 
drew, to  Irvine  district,  in  the  Kentucky  conference.  At 
my  third  quarterly  meeting  for  London  circuit,  in  Laurel 
county,  a  wilderness  region,  I  noticed  quite  a  familiar 
countenance  in  my  congregation.  I  aj>proached  the  gen- 
tleman, and  asked  his  name.  He  replied,  '  My  name  is 
Robert  Smith;  I  think  I  ought  to  know  you,  sir.'  1 
then  told  him  my  name  was  H. ;  that  I  formerly  lived  in 
Ohio,  and  resided  for  one  year  in  Mason,  or  a  town  called 
Palmyra.  Have  I  not  seen  you  there,  Mr.  Smith  ?  '  0, 
yes,  sir,  I  used  to  live  there.'  'Well,  Mr.  Smith,  do  you 
remember  the  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Latta,  M.  D.,  and  Dr. 
John  Waterman,  and  a  layman  of  the  name  of  David 
Fisher,  Esq.,  of  Clermont  county,  in  that  state?'  To 
this  question  he  replied  as  follows,  while  a  crimson  blush 
mantled  his  cheek:  <0,  yes,  sir,  I  remember  them  very 


RESISTING    THE    HOLY    SPIRIT.  223 

well;  but  I  have  changed  my  course  of  life  since  then, 
and  retired  to  this  new  country  to  live.'  I  was  also 
informed  that  he  had  not  lived  long  in  that  region,  and 
that,  since  his  arrival  among  them,  he  had  kept  himself 
hidden,  as  much  as  possible,  from  public  view. 

"Fraternally,  Yotjr  Fellow-laborer." 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

FEARFUL  CONSEQUENCES  OF  OBSTINATELY 
RESISTING  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT. 

About  the  middle  of  the  revival  at  M.,  an  occurrence 
transpired  worthy  of  record.  A  Mr.  S.,  whose  wife  was 
a  member  of  our  Church,  had  been  very  friendly  with  me 
up  to  the  commencement  of  the  meeting.  He  then  ab- 
sented himself  from  the  Church,  and  joined  with  others 
to  oppose  me.  On  one  occasion  I  called  to  see  him.  I 
found  him  at  work  in  his  shop,  adjoining  his  house. 
After  a  very  friendly  conversation  about  temporal  things, 
on  my  rising  up  to  depart,  I  gave  him  a  kind  invitation 
to  attend  the  meetings  which  were  now  in  progress.  At 
this  he  became  very  much  excited,  and  stated  that  he 
would  not.  I  replied,  "Very  well,"  and  then  added  that 
I  hoped  he  would  not  be  offended  at  me,  for  I  did  not 
wish  to  do  him  any  harm,  but  was  willing  to  do  any 
thing  in  my  power  for  either  his  soul  or  body.  He  then 
grot  very  angry,  and  told  me  to  leave  immediately,  as  he 
did  not  wish  to  hold  any  conversation  with  me.  "Why 
do  you  not,"  said  he,  "act  like  other  denominations  of 
Christians?  What  is  the  use  of  your  holding  your  meet- 
ings so  long?"  He  then  began  to  curse  and  swear  in  a 
most  shocking  manner,  upon  which  I  walked  toward  the 
door  to  take  my  exit;  but  before  I  left  I  remarked  to 


224         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

him  as  follows:  "Mr.  S.,  I  have  only  to  say  to  you  now, 
that  if  you  still  continue  to  pursue  this  kind  of  conduct 
toward  the  Church  and  the  ministry  of  the  word  of  God, 
you  will  make  yourself  a  very  unhappy  man;  and  be 
assured,  I  will  not  cease  to  pray  for  your  soul/'  He 
thanked  me  with  a  lip  of  scorn,  and  then  added,  "I  will 
risk  it;  I  can  sleep  as  sound  as  the  best  of  you." 

I  took  my  leave  of  him,  and,  to  my  astonishment,  that 
evening,  soon  after  service  commenced,  he  came  with  his 
wife  to  preaching.  The  house  was  much  crowded,  and 
he  took  his  stand  about  midway  of  one  of  the  aisles  in 
the  old  academy.  He  appeared  restless,  and  soon  went 
out,  but  returned  again  in  a  few  minutes.  He  went  out 
a  second  time  before  the  sermon  closed,  and  struck  the 
door  violently  three  times  with  a  stone.  His  wife  then 
rose  up  and  went  out,  and  they  started  home  together. 
As  they  passed  down  the  street  he  raved  and  swore  like  a 
madman,  and  told  his  wife  he  would  take  her  life  if  she 
ever  entered  the  door  of  the  Methodist  church  again. 
After  they  reached  home,  he  knocked  over  the  chairs, 
and  pitched  the  hearth-plate  of  an  old  stove  up  against 
the  plastering  over  his  head,  and  swore  vengeance 
against  the  entire  Methodist  society.  He  slept  none 
that  whole  night.  The  next  day  he  was  furious,  and 
the  wicked  cried  out,  " Bravo!  bravo!"  when  they  heard 
what  he  had  done.  But  it  was  not  long  till  even  public 
opinion  turned  against  him,  and  he  was  actually  ashamed 
to  be  seen  walking  the  streets. 

About  three  days  after  this  occurrence,  early  in  the 
morning,  before  I  had  left  my  bed,  I  heard  some  one 
rap  at  my  door.  I  arose  and  opened  it,  and,  to  my  great 
astonishment,  I  found  Mr.  S.  standing  on  the  steps.  He 
immediately  offered  me  his  hand,  and,  bursting  into 
tears,  stated  that  he  "  could  not  sleep  during  the  past 
night."     "I  have  come,"  said  he,  "to  ask  your  pardon 


RESISTING    THE    HOLY    SPIRIT.  225 

for  treating  you  as  I  did  the  other  day.  Will  you  forgive 
me  ?  Will  you  come  and  see  me  ?  0,  I  am  indeed  very 
unhappy,  and  could  not  rest  till  I  would  come  and  see 
you  !"  I  told  him  I  had  long  since  forgiven  him,  and  I 
hoped  God  would  also  forgive  him,  and  that  he  would 
yet  become  a  good  Christian.  "  I  have  no  hope  of 
that,"  was  his  reply,  in  a  sad  and  tremulous  tone  of 
voice. 

I  called  to  see  him  as  I  promised,  but  found  him  dis- 
inclined to  converse  upon  subjects  of  a  serious  character. 
Time  rolled  away,  and  about  two  months  after  this  he 
called  again  at  my  boarding-house,  and  sent  for  brother 
N.  and  myself,  and,  with  streaming  eyes,  informed  me 
that  "he  could  stand  out  no  longer/'  and  that  he  came 
over  to  "ask  me  to  pray  for  him."  I  visited  him,  and 
complied  with  his  wishes.  The  following  Sabbath  it  was 
noised  abroad  that  he  intended  to  join  the  Church. 
This  drew  a  large  crowd  to  the  academy.  Mr.  S.  was 
there,  and  when  I  opened  the  doors  of  the  Church,  he 
started  and  came  about  half-way  up  to  the  pulpit,  and 
then  stopped  and  looked  back  to  see  what  his  wicked 
associates  were  doing  or  saying.  His  conduct  and  ap- 
pearance excited  the  congregation  very  much.  He  at 
last  eame  up,  and  gave  me  his  hand,  as  I  thought,  with 
some  degree  of  reluctance.  I  also  thought  of  the 
language  of  my  Savior,  "No  man  having  put  his  hand 
to  the  plow  and  looking  back  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of 
God."  I  also  remembered  Lot's  wife.  His  case  was  a 
most  singular  one;  I  will  only  give  a  small  part  of 
it.  His  health  rapidly  declined;  he  wasted  away  to  a 
mere  skeleton ;  he  refused  all  consolation  from  the  word 
of  God;  he  would  send  for  me  one  day  and  the  doctor 
the  next.  Sometimes,  when  I  would  call  to  see  him,  he 
would  step  to  the  door,  and  look  down  street  to  see  if 
any  of  his  wicked  neighbors  saw  me  coming.     After  he 


226        FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

joined  the  Church,  he  told  me  that,  from  the  time  he 
ordered  me  away  from  his  house,  and  told  me  that  "  he 
could  sleep  as  sound  as  the  best  of  us/'  he  had  not 
enjoyed  one  hour's  undisturbed  repose.  He  would  go 
out  and  play  cards  to  divert  his  mind,  till  at  last,  as  a 
young  man  told  me  who  played  with  him,  he  could  not 
distinguish  one  card  from  another.  Sometimes,  on  his 
way  home,  he  would  imagine  the  devil  was  after  him, 
and  he  would  start  and  run  as  fast  as  he  could.  Very 
often  he  would  make  his  wife  get  up  out  of  her  bed  and 
pray  all  night  for  him,  and  then  in  the  morning  threaten 
to  take  her  life  if  she  would  tell  any  one  that  he  was 
seeking  religion ;  but  at  last  his  conscience  troubled  him 
so  much  he  was  forced  to  come  and  tell  me,  and  also  to 
offer  himself  for  membership  in  the  Church. 

Soon  after  he  joined  the  Church,  he  became  incapable 
of  attending  to  his  business.  Our  enemies  rejoiced  at 
this,  and  charged  me  with  the  awful  sin,  as  they  termed 
it,  of  "  setting  this  man  crazy."  I  told  them  I  had 
nothing  to  do  with  that  matter,  his  own  wickedness  was 
chastising  him ;  God  had  a  controversy  with  him,  and, 
unless  Mr.  S.  would  submit  to  the  Gospel  method  of  ob- 
taining salvation,  I  had  no  hope  of  his  salvation.  All 
confessed  "the  hand  of  God  had  touched  him.,,  He 
continued  in  this  state  of  mind  for  more  than  three 
months,  till  he  looked  like  a  walking  skeleton ;  then,  all 
of  a  sudden,  he  began  apparently  to  recover,  and  soon 
became  so  fleshy  that  he  could  not  get  on  any  of  his 
old  clothes.  At  times  he  seemed  penitent,  and  then 
again  manifested  his  hatred  to  the  humbling  doctrines 
of  the  cross.  He  secretly  "loved  the  wages  of  unright- 
eousness/' At  length  the  Holy  Spirit  ceased  to  strive 
with  him.  He  then  joined  the  Universalists,  and  be- 
came desperately  wicked,  and  soon  squandered  all  his 
property,  and  left  his  family  and  wandered  about  from 


MY    FIRST    STATION.  227 

place  to  place,  like  some  evil  spirit  seeking  rest,  but 
finding  none.  The  last  time  I  heard  from  him  he  was 
still  "without  God  and  without  hope  in  the  world." 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

MY      FIRST      STATION. 

The  following  sketch  of  my  labors  in  Fulton  station, 
Cincinnati,  I  have  extracted  from  my  journal: 

October  30, 1838.— In  the  fall  of  1838  I  was  appoint- 
ed to  Fulton  station,  and  commenced  my  labors  October 
21st.  God  owned  his  truth  at  our  first  coming  together. 
J<i  the  evening  the  "glory  of  the  Lord"  filled  the  tem- 
ple. "I  thanked  God  and  took  courage."  This  day  I 
rejoice  in  God  for  what  he  is  doing  in  Fulton  station,  in 
the  awakening  and  conversion  of  sinners.  Last  night  I 
was  very  happy,  and  to-day  my  "  peace  flows  like  a  river." 

November  3. — Had  several  good  meetings  this  week: 
upward  of  twenty  were  added  to  the  Church,  and  the 
good  work  is  still  progressing.  Attended  a  funeral  to- 
day, at  which  a  very  unpleasant  occurrence  transpired. 
After  the  sermon  was  over  I  retired  to  another  room,  but 
soon  learned  that  a  difficulty  had  sprung  up  between  the 
mother  of  the  boy  and  a  proud,  ungodly  son-in-law,  who 
had  arrived  only  a  few  minutes  before.  He  told  his 
mother-in-law  that  the  coffin  was  not  fine  enough,  and 
objected  to  having  him  buried  till  he  would  go  down  to 
the  city  and  procure  a  more  elegant  one.  Brother  Chris- 
topher Smith,  the  undertaker,  audibly  remarked  as  fol- 
lows: "I  can  make  you  a  better  one,  but  this  coffin  is 
just  such  a  one  as  was  ordered,  and  good  enough  to  bury 
any  Christian  in,  and  I  am  afraid,  young  man,  unless  you 
change  your  conduct,  your  body  may  not  have  as  decent 


228  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

a  covering  as  this  when  you  are  laid  in  the  grave/'  It 
was  a  word  in  season.  The  poor,  vain  creature  left  the 
room,  and  the  procession  moved  onward  to  the  grave. 
To-day  I  visited  a  wretched  family,  living  in  a  damp, 
cold  cellar.  They  are  very  poor.  While  praying  for 
them,  God  came  down  in  mighty  power,  and  healed  the 
woman  of  her  "backslidings,"  and  she  shouted  aloud  for 
joy.  Her  health  is  now  rapidly  recovering.  0,  the  won 
derful  influences  of  "effectual  prayer!" 

Before  the  close  of  the  old  year  God  favored  us  with 
a  most  gracious  revival.  Upward  of  fifty  souls  were 
soundly  converted. 

Under  date  of  January  10,  1839,  I  find  the  following 
brief  record: 

Thus  far,  in  the  new  year,  my  health  is  much  better. 
Prospects  good.     God  is  still  with  us.     Amen. 

February  15. — Yesterday  I  entered  the  fourth  year 
of  my  ministry.  "Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,"  for  a  con- 
tinuation of  his  goodness  to  me !  A  great  part  of  tho 
time  my  health  has  been  very  poor;  but  I  thank  God,  my 
labors  have  not  been  altogether  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  I 
will  still  go  on. 

In  1838  Fulton  station  embraced  all  east  of  Deer  creek, 
in  Cincinnati,  and  all  of  Fulton  township.  It  was  a  hard 
field  of  labor,  many  of  the  members  living  at  a  consider- 
able distance  from  the  church.  Early  in  the  spring  my 
health  declined  rapidly,  so  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty 
that  I  performed  the  duties  of  a  stationed  minister.  I 
loved  the  people  of  that  station  "fervently,"  and  I  know 
that  I  shared  largely  in  their  prayers  and  Christian  sym- 
pathies. In  looking  over  that  pleasant  field,  I  call  to 
mind  many  sad  and  pleasing  recollections.  While  board- 
ing with  brother  li.,  a  young  man  kept  a  store  imme- 
diately under  the  room  in  which  I  had  my  lodgings.  I 
often  tried  to  allure  him  to  the  house  of  God,  but  without 


MY    FIRST    STATION.  229 

success.  I  asked  myself,  "Lord,  -what  more  can  I  do  for 
the  conversion  of  this  amiable  young  man  V1  At  last  I  said 
to  myself,  "This  will  I  do — I  will  kneel  down  every  night, 
over  his  head  in  my  own  room,  and  pray  God  to  awaken 
and  convert  his  soul."  Early  in  the  morning  after  the 
third  night,  I  met  him  in  the  back  yard.  He  spoke  very 
kindly,  but  looked  pale  and  sad.  "Mr.  Gaddis,"  said  he, 
before  we  parted,  "I  wish  you  would  come  into  my  store 
after  breakfast.  I  desire  to  have  a  short  conversation  with 
you."  I  told  him  it  would  afford  me  great  pleasure  to  do  so. 
On  conversing  with  him,  I  learned  the  following  singular 
facts  :  He  remarked,  "  On  going  to  bed  last  night,  I  felt 
strangely  impressed.  I  could  not  sleep  for  some  time. 
At  last  I  fell  into  a  profound  sleep,  and  did  not  awake  till 
after  midnight;  at  which  time  I  was  aroused  by  a  most 
alarming  vision,  or  dream.  I  thought  that,  for  some 
wicked  acts  of  my  past  life,  I  was  condemned  to  die,  and 
the  day  and  hour  named  for  my  execution  had  come,  and 
I  was  led  forth  to  the  scaffold.  I  was  convinced  that  if 
I  died  as  I  then  was,  I  would  open  my  eyes  in  hell  as  soon 
as  my  soul  was  severed  from  the  body.  I  awoke,  and 
found  it  was  a  dream;  but  I  am  sensible  it  was  a  warning 
from  God.  I  arose  from  my  bed  and  spent  the  remainder 
of  the  night  on  my  knees,  pleading  with  God  to  regen- 
erate my  poor  soul.  Now,  Mr.  Gaddis,"  he  said,  "I  have 
asked  you  in  here  this  morning  to  request  an  interest  in 
your  prayers.  I  am  resolved  to  change  my  future  course 
of  conduct  and  lead  a  new  life."  He  was  among  the 
mourners  that  night  at  M'Kendree,  and  was  soon  made  a 
happy  partaker  of  justifying  grace.  I  have  always  re- 
garded his  salvation  as  a  remarkable  answer  to  "importu- 
nate prayer,"  and  another  proof  of  the  declaration  of 
Elihu  in  Job  :  "For  God  speaketh  once,  yea,  twice;  yet 
man  perceiveth  it  not.  In  a  dream,  in  a  vision  of  the 
night,  when  deep  sleep  falleth  upon  men,  in  slumberinga 


230         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

upon  the  bed;  then  he  openeth  the  ears  of  men,  and 
sealeth  their  instruction,  that  he  may  withdraw  man  from 
his  purpose,  and  hide  pride  from  man." 

A  Mr.  was  a  striking  example  of  self-deception. 

While  digging  a  cellar,  a  portion  of  the  bank  next  the 
hill  fell  down  suddenly,  and  fatally  injured  him  in  the 
abdomen,  as  was  generally  believed  by  his  surgeon  and 
neighbors.  Several  days  after  the  accident,  he  became 
apparently  deeply  penitent,  and  sent  for  one  of  my  class- 
leaders  to  visit  him,  and  pray  for  him.  After  several  vis- 
its the  sick  man  professed  conversion,  and  sent  for  me  to 
come  immediately  to  his  sick-room.  On  going  in  I  found 
him  joyful.  He  said  he  knew  God  had  pardoned  all  his 
sins.  The  next  day  Dr.  M.  was  sent  for,  who  performed 
a  very  difficult  surgical  operation,  and  gave  him  sudden 
relief,  so  that  in  a  short  time  he  was  pronounced  conva- 
lescent, and  entirely  out  of  danger.  I  often  visited  this 
man's  chamber,  and  heard  him  vow  and  vow  again,  should 
God  spare  him  to  recover,  he  would  immediately  join  the 
Church,  and  devote  himself  and  family  to  the  service  of 
God.  But,  alas !  alas !  how  deceptive  the  human  heart ! 
The  words  of  the  prophet  were  strikingly  fulfilled  in  his 
case :  u  When  He  slew  them,  then  they  sought  Him ;  and 
they  returned  and  inquired  early  after  God:  and  they  re- 
membered that  God  was  their  Rock,  and  the  high  God  their 
Redeemer.  Nevertheless,  they  did  flatter  him  with  their 
mouth,  and  lied  unto  him  with  their  tongues;  for  their 
heart  was  not  right  with  him,  neither  were  they  steadfast 
in  his  covenant."  This  poor,  deluded  man  recovered 
rapidly,  and  as  soon  as  his  strength  returned  he  no  longer 
had  any  use  for  class-leaders,  ministers,  prayers,  or  even 
the  Bible  of  God.  He  was  heard  to  laugh  at  his  fears  in 
view  of  a  coming  judgment,  and  to  use  profane  language 
before  he  was  able  to  quit  his  sick-room,  and  instead  of 
coming  to  Church  and  uniting  with  the  people  of  God,  he 


MY    FIRST    STATION.  231 

never  crossed  the  threshold  of  the  sanctuary.  When  I 
would  see  him  coming  down  the  street  he  would  instantly 
cross  over  to  the  other  side,  to  avoid  meeting  me  on  the 
pavement  or  side-walk. 

During  the  progress  of  the  revival  at  M'Kendree,  two 
sisters  came  to  the  mourners'  bench.  One  of  them  was 
converted  soon,  but  the  other  could  not  obtain  the  u  bless- 
ing." One  night,  before  starting  to  Church,  she  put  on 
her  bonnet  and  stood  before  the  looking-glass  to  see  if  all 
was  right.  When  she  discovered  her  "artificial  flowers/' 
she  said  to  herself,  "Well,  every  time  I  have  approached 
the  altar  I  have  felt  condemned  for  going  there  with  my 
bonnet  lined  with  flowers;  now,  by  the  help  of  God,  you 
shall  not  go  there  to-night !"  and,  putting  up  her  hand, 
she  pulled  them  out  and  laid  them  on  the  stand ;  for,  to 
use  her  own  language,  "Pride  was  my  besetting  sin,  and 
I  am  determined  to  lay  aside  every  weight  and  strip  for 
the  race/'  That  night  God  converted  her  soul  soon  after 
she  approached  the  altar. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  case  of  a  discouraged  "mourn- 
er/' that  came  within  my  observation.  A  lady,  who  had 
sought  the  Savior  for  more  than  three  days  sorrowing, 
came  to  me  at  the  close  of  our  second  quarterly  meeting, 
in  the  spring,  and  asked  me  if  I  did  not  intend  to  pro- 
tract the  meeting.  I  told  her  we  should  have  meeting 
the  next  day  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning.  "I  am  glad 
of  it,"  she  replied,  "for  I  was  afraid  your  meeting  would 
close  before  I  found  peace  and  comfort  to  my  troubled 
soul/'  and  then,  in  a  most  eloquent  and  pathetic  manner, 
told  me  the  sorrows  of  her  broken  heart.  I  then  said: 
"  Sister,  God  can  change  your  heart  at  home  as  well  as  at 
the  church.  He  often  disappoints  us  in  regard  to  our 
expectations,  desires,  and  plans  of  obtaining  a  knowledge 
of  the  remission  of  sins,"  and  closed  my  advice  by  say- 
ing, "I  want  you  to  seek  as  you  go  home,  and  to-night, 


232         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

before  you  retire,  expect  the  'blessing;'  but  remember 
this,  ' Though  sorrow  may  continue  for  a  night,  joy  will 
come  in  the  morning.'"  The  next  day,  as  soon  as  I  saw 
her,  I  knew  she  had  met  with  a  change.  Her  counte- 
nance beamed  with  joy,  and  bespoke  a  heart  at  peace  with 
God.  On  that  morning  she  arose  early,  and  resolved  to 
go  out  into  the  garden  and  pray,  remembering  those 
encouraging  words,  u  Though  sorrow  may  continue  for  a 
night,  joy  will  come  in  the  morning."  She  kneeled  down 
with  her  face  toward  the  east.  It  was  a  little  before  sun- 
rise; she  did  not  "  wrestle"  long  before  the  natural  sun 
appeared  above  the  horizon,  and  "the  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness arose  with  healing  in  his  wings"  upon  her  dark  and 
troubled  soul.  Now  she  was  enabled  to  say,  from  heart- 
felt experience,  "Though  sorrow  may  continue  for  a 
night,  joy  cometh  in  the  morning."  Like  one  of  old, 
she  "went  on  her  way  rejoicing"  toward  Mount  Zion. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  I  made  a  short  visit  to 
the  Esculapian  Springs  in  Kentucky.  It  was  then  kept 
by  Captain  Carter,  a  very  kind  and  amiable  gentleman. 
The  day  before  I  left  it  was  ascertained  that  I  was  a 
Methodist  minister.  Mr.  C.  and  his  family  urged  me  to 
preach.  I  told  them  I  had  no  objection,  provided  it  met 
the  approval  of  his  visitors.  He  soon  devised  a  plan  to 
secure  their  approbation,  and  put  up  a  notice  that  I  would 
preach  at  four  o'clock,  that  same  afternoon,  in  the  ball- 
room. I  went  to  my  room  and  spent  the  greater  part  of 
the  intervening  hours  in  fervent  prayer  to  my  heavenly 
Father  for  assistance  in  the  time  of  special  need.  A  t 
the  appointed  hour  the  room  was  crowded  full,  and  many 
were  compelled  to  stand  outside.  I  preached  the  Gospel 
with  the  u  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven."  It  touch- 
ed many  hearts.  Blessed  be  God,  I  have  no  doubt  good 
was  done  that  afternoon.  An  aged  man,  who  leaned  upon 
his  staff,  had  not  heard  a  sermon  for  ten  long  years  before, 


PRACTICAL    AMALGAMATION.  233 

on  the  account  of  affliction.  As  soon  as  I  pronounced 
the  henediction  a  number  came  forward  and  shook  me 
kindly  by  the  hand,  and  asked  me  to  remember  them  in 
my  prayers.  Some,  I  found,  were  Methodists  and  warm- 
hearted Christians;  and  some  of  other  denominations 
made  themselves  known  to  me  also. 

It  was  customary  to  have  music  and  dancing  every 
night  in  the  ball-room;  but  after  the  sermon  that  after- 
noon, none  seemed  desirous  to  engage  in  any  amusement 
whatever.  It  was  ten  o'clock  before  any  one  even  took  a 
seat  in  the  usual  place  of  mirth — the  ball-room.  One 
remarked,  "Another  sermon  of  that  kind  would  soon 
spoil  all  their  fun,  and  cause  the  place  to  be  deserted  for 
the  season. "  The  next  morning  I  took  my  departure, 
with  a  happy  frame  of  mind,  and  more  determined  than 
ever  to  "know  nothing  among  men  but  Christ  and  him 
crucified." 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

PRACTICAL    AMALGAMATION. 

"Truth  is  stranger  than  fiction."  How  often  does 
the  minister  of  Christ  meet  with  a  verification  of  this 
proverb !  Many  strange  and  wonderful  incidents  came 
under  my  own  observation  while  laboring  in  this  sta- 
tion. One  afternoon  I  was  called  on  to  marry  a  couple 
who  came  from  the  city.  The  wedding  was  to  be  at 
the  house  of  a  member  of  my  charge.  Rev.  John 
Miley  accompanied  me  to  witness  the  ceremony.  It  was 
what  is  usually  called  a  " runaway  match."  The  lady 
seemed  rather  of  an  "  uncertain"  age,  and  was  much 
agitated  during  the  marriage  ceremony.  I  remarked  at 
the  time  to  brother  Miley  that  I  did  not  like  her 
20 


'234  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

movements,  she  had  too  much  use  for  her  " hartshorn." 
Her  conduct  was  studied,  not  natural  and  easy.  Soon 
after  the  ceremony  was  over  she  retired  to  her  room. 
But  all  these  strange  and  erratic  movements  were  char- 
itably explained  by  the  peculiarities  of  her  present 
situation.     That  same  night  the  parties  returned  to  the 

city  and  took  boarding  at  .     I   did   not  hear  any 

more  of  them  till  about  four  weeks  afterward;  I  then 
learned  that  they  had  separated.  This  surprised  me 
very  much.  A  near  relative  of  his  furnished  me  a  very 
satisfactory  explanation  of  the  whole  matter.  The 
young  lady   professed  to   be  the  daughter  of    a  widow 

Grinson,  living  on  street,  near  Court.     Mr.  S.  was 

not  permitted  to  see  her  previous  to  the  marriage.  The 
young  lady  told  him  when  he  first  proposed  marriage,  that 
her  mother  would  never  consent  to  the  match ;  and  at 
the  second  interview,  told  him  her  mother  refused  to  see 
any  man  who  desired  the  hand  of  her  daughter  in  mar- 
riage, and  that  she  was  growing  old  and  wished  her 
daughter  to  remain  with  her  till  her  death.  He  then 
asked  her  if  she  would  elope  with  him.  She  replied,  "I 
will,  if  you  will  wait  till  I  get  my  wedding  clothes  made." 
The  time  was  fixed,  and  they  came  to  F.,  and  I  married 
them,  April  24, 1839.  I  will  now  furnish  my  readers  the 
sequel  of  this  wicked  deception.  Mr.  S.  urged  his  wife 
to  make  preparation  for  housekeeping.  This  she  was 
very  reluctant  to  do,  but  at  length  made  all  the  necessary 
arrangements,  and  her  husband  procured  a  house  in  a 
very  respectable  part  of  the  city.  She  now  became  un- 
happy, and  manifested  great  disquietude  of  mind.  Her 
husband  was  at  a  loss  to  understand  the  cause  of  her  dis- 
tress. At  length  she  coolly  said  to  him  one  day,  "Mr.  S., 
I  wish  you  would  leave  Cincinnati,  and  go  somewhere  else 
to  live."  He  inquired  hastily,  "Why,  my  dear,  (?)  do  you 
wish  to  move  away  from  this  city?"      "0,"  said  she,  "we 


PRACTICAL    AMALGAMATION.  235 

can  never  be  respected  here  as  we  would  be  among  stran- 
gers." "Why  not?"  responded  her  husband.  She  then 
fell  on  her  knees  and  implored  his  forgiveness.  "I  have 
deceived  you/'  said  she,  with  a  tone  and  manner  that 
satisfied  him  she  was  not  jesting.  "I  have  deeply  wronged 
you;  but  I  was  instigated  to  it  by  others,  and  tempted  by 
the  devil.  0,  will  you  ever  forgive  me  ?  Will  God  for- 
give me  for  such  a  wicked  act?"  Not  being  a  believer 
in  practical  amalgamation,  they  had  an  unceremonious 
parting  that  same  evening,  and  she  returned  to  soothe 
the  few  remaining  days  of  her  ebony,  widowed  mother. 
The  next  year  he  obtained  a  divorce. 

A  similar  case  occurred  not  long  after,  in  the  town  of 
F.  A  young  gentleman,  a  steam-boat  pilot,  formed  the 
acquaintance  of  a  young  lady  who  resided  at  the  time  in 
the  third  ward,  east  of  Broadway.  After  a  short  court- 
ship they  were  lawfully  married  by  the  Rev.  William 
Burke,  and  came  to  board  near  the  M'Kendree  Chapel,  of 
which  I  was  pastor  at  the  time.  On  one  occasion  I  was 
called,  in  great  haste,  to  visit  a  lady  residing  at  the  house 

of  Mr.  ,  a  short  distance  from  my  place  of  boarding. 

On  entering  her  room  I  found  her  very  ill,  and  her 
female  attendants  much  excited.  She  was  tossing  to  and 
fro,  and  moaning  apparently  in  the  deepest  agony.  It 
was  the  opinion  of  Doctor  T.,  that  unless  she  got  relief 
she  would  die  soon.  In  the  midst  of  the  excitement  I 
tried  to  pray,  as  I  was  requested,  for  the  sick  young  wo- 
man as  well  as  I  could.  From  the  lady  with  whom  she 
boarded  I  learned  the  following  particulars:  She  had 
been  married  only  about  ten  days  or  two  weeks.  Her 
husband  being  a  regular  steam-boat  pilot,  could  not  com- 
mand his  own  time,  but  was  obliged  to  depart  whenever 
his  boat  was  ready  to  leave  that  port  for  New  Orleans. 
He  left  his  young  wife  in  charge  of  the  family  of  Mr.  B., 
with  whom  he  had  engaged  her  board  till  the  time  of  his 


236  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

return.  The  same  night  of  his  departure  his  wife  slept 
but  little,  and  about  day-break  she  came  down  stairs  in 
apparent  alarm,  but  kept  quiet  during  the  day.  Ihe 
next  night  she  was  more  disturbed  mentally  than  on  the 
previous  night,  and,  long  before  morning,  came  down  into 
Mrs.  B.'s  room  and  requested  her  to  let  her  sleep  on 
the  floor  till  morning.  The  sympathies  of  the  kind 
family  were  aroused  in  her  behalf,  and  they  did  every 
thing  they  could  to  soothe  her  agitated  mind,  which  they 
supposed  arose  from  the  sudden  departure  of  her  hus- 
band, and  his  consequent  exposure  on  the  river  by  night 
and  day.  However,  all  their  efforts  were  fruitless.  She 
grew  worse  and  worse  till  she  took  her  bed  and  sent  for  a 
physician.  She  refused  all  nourishment,  and  artfully 
concealed  the  true  cause  of  her  misery  till  her  reason 
was  well  nigh  dethroned.  The  sympathies  of  the  whole 
community  were  awakened  in  the  behalf  of  the  youthful 
bride.  Her  strange  actions  from  the  moment  her  hus- 
band took  his  departure  were  the  topic  of  conversation 
in  the  whole  neighborhood  for  more  than  a  week  before 
the  mystery  was  solved.  One  morning,  while  writhing  in 
anguish,  she  put  up  her  hands  and  tore  off  her  "wig," 
and,  to  the  amusement  and  chagrin  of  her  lady  nurses,  a 
curly  head  dissipated  at  once  the  mystery  that  had  envel- 
oped her  case.  A  messenger  was  dispatched  for  Doctor 
T  .  who,  on  further  examination  about  the  cranium,  satis- 
fied himself  and  all  present,  that  she  was  not  of  Anglo- 
Saxon  blood.  Not  long  after  this  I  met  one  of  our  good 
sisters  coming  out  of  her  sick-room  laughing  most  heart- 
ily, and  as  soon  as  she  saw  me  she  remarked  as  follows : 
"Well,  brother  G.,  I  think  your  services  may  be  dis- 
pensed with  now;  we  have  made  a  strange  discovery. 
Our  young  bride  turns  out  to  be  a  most  beautiful  mulatto 
girl,  with  false  hair,  which  she  tore  off  this  morning,  and 
let  us  into  the  secret  of  her  agony.     It  is  a  troubled  con- 


PRACTICAL    AMALGAMATION.  237 

science  that  makes  her  groan  and  weep  so  much.  You 
may  rest  assured/7  said  sister  M.,  "our  young  friend,  Mr. 

,  has  been  ' bitten  badly'  in  this  hasty  matrimonial 

affair,  but  I  suppose  he  will  get  no  sympathy  among  the 
female  portion  of  this  community,  for  reasons  not  neces- 
sary to  mention."  You  may  imagine  the  excitement 
among  the  young  people  when  the  mystery  was  unraveled. 
I  hasten  to  give  the  sequel.  The  mother  of  the  bride 
was  a  respectable  colored  woman,  living  in  Champaign 
county.  The  daughter  left  home  to  live  with  a  gentle- 
man in  Covington,  Kentucky.  Not  long  after  she  came 
there  a  wicked-hearted  woman,  who  was  a  slave,  told  her 
that  she  was  surprised  at  a  woman  so  near  white  living 
among  colored  folks  at  all;  and  then  told  her  to  go  over 
to  Cincinnati  and  purchase  a  "wig,"  and  have  her  hair 
trimmed  close;  then  she  would  be  able  to  pass  for  a 
white  girl,  and  marry  a  white  husband.  The  silly  girl 
took  her  advice.  How  well  she  played  her  part,  and  how 
much  she  suffered  for  her  deceptions,  I  have  in  part 
already  narrated.  Her  husband,  before  his  return,  was 
informed  of  his  unenviable  condition.  On  his  return  he 
resorted  to  no  violent  measures,  but  submitted  to  his  fate 
with  a  heroism  that  astonished  all  with  whom  he  had 
intercourse.  She  was  brought  down  to  the  verge  of  the 
grave,  and  did  not  recover  till  near  spring.  Her  husband 
employed  a  nurse  to  take  good  care  of  her,  and  when  she 
got  well,  furnished  her  the  means  to  return  home  to  her 
mother.  He  was  divorced  from  her  at  an  early  period. 
Of  their  future  history  I  have  not  been  advised.  This  is 
"romance  in  real  life"  in  the  Queen  City  and  a  suburban 
village. 

I  was  much  attached  to  the  members  of  the  Church  at 
M'Kendree  Chapel  in  Fulton.  I  know  I  had  their  confi- 
dence and  esteem.  The  society  was  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition at  that  period,  and  numbered  two  hundred  and 


238  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

forty-two.  A  new  church  was  erected  some  years  after- 
ward, but  the  society  has  not  increased  much  in  conse- 
quence of  removals. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

EASTERN    CHARGE,     WESLEY    CHAPEL,     CIN- 
CINNATI. 

In  1839  I  was  appointed  to  Wesley  Chapel  in  Cincin 
nati;  Rev.  E.  W.  Sehon  was  my  colleague,  and  preacher 
in  charge  of  the  station.  Soon  after  the  close  of  con- 
ference, which  was  held  in  Cincinnati,  before  entering 
on  the  duties  of  the  station  I  concluded  to  visit  my 
widowed  mother  in  the  county  of  Adams,  about  eighty 
miles  from  the  city.  I  traveled  on  board  a  steamboat 
as  far  as  Maysville,  Kentucky,  and  then  by  stage  to 
West  Union.  In  the  stage-coach  I  became  acquainted 
with  Eev.  Mr.  M'Cauley,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
I  was  much  pleased  and  edified  by  his  remarks  on  the 
importance  of  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
the  sacred  office.  When  I  was  about  to  leave  him  he 
inquired,  kindly,  which  way  I  was  going;  I  replied,  "To 
visit  my  aged  mother,"  who  was  then  residing  with  my 
only  sister,  Mrs.  Wamsley,  near  Ohio  Brush  Creek  Forge. 
As  he  gave  me  the  parting  hand  he  said,  "Mother! 
mother !  that  is  a  sweet  name,  and  you  can  but  be  happy 
in  the  prospect  of  soon  seeing  her,  and  to  receive  her 
blessing  at  the  close  of  the  toils  of  another  year."  The 
manner  as  well  as  the  words  he  then  uttered  made  a 
deep  impression  on  my  poor  heart.  We  did  meet  very 
soon,  and  I  felt  that  I  was  happy.  Our  meeting  was 
short.  We  soon  parted  for  the  last  time.  I  left  on 
Friday  and  traveled  as  far  as  Georgetown,  in  the  county 


CINCINNATI.  239 

of  Brown,  where  I  concluded  to  spend  the  Sabbath.  Early 
on  Monday  morning  I  received  intelligence  that  my 
mother  died  on  Sabbath,  and  that  her  corpse  would  be 
brought  to  Ripley  on  Tuesday  for  interment.  This  sad 
intelligence  induced  me  to  change  my  course,  and  I 
took  the  stage  for  Ripley  on  Monday  evening.  0  how 
cheerless  and  cold  the  world  looked  that  evening!  I  felt 
that  I  was  bereaved  of  the  best  friend  God  ever  gave 
me.  My  health  was  then  very  poor,  and  the  affliction 
was  very  trying  to  my  shattered  constitution.  Never 
shall  I  forget  the  emotions  of  my  heart  when  I  looked 
upon  my  mother's  face  for  the  last  time.  For  several 
days  afterward  I  felt  as  though  my  poor  heart  would 
break.  At  the  hour  of  twilight  I  went  out  to  the  grave 
of  my  mother,  where  she  was  laid  side  by  side  with  my 
beloved  father.  I  kneeled  down  and  prayed  to  God  that 
he  would  permit  her  departed  spirit  to  become  my  guard- 
ian angel  in  this  land  of  sorrow;  and  that  she  might 
De  especially  near  me  when  trying  to  preach  the  Gospel 
of  the  grace  of  God.  Ever  since  I  have  loved  to  visit 
her  grave  and  water  it  with  my  tears,  and  renew  my 
vows  that  her  God  shall  be  my  God  henceforth  and  for- 
ever. "When  I  last  stood  there  I  repeated  over  and  over 
again  the  following  beautiful  words  : 

"  Mother,  I  love  thy  grave : 
The  violet,  with  its  blossoms  blue  and  mild, 
Waves  o'er  thy  head ;  when  shall  it  wave 
Above  thy  child? 

Where  is  thy  spirit  flown? 
I  gaze  above,  thy  look  is  imaged  there ; 
I  listen,  and  thy  gentle  tone 
Is  on  the  air. 

0  come  whilst  here  I  press 
My  brow  upon  thy  grave,  and  in  those  mild 
And  thrilling  tones  of  tenderness, 
Bless,  bless  thy  child ! 


240  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 


Yes,  bless  thy  weeping  child, 
And  o'er  thine  urn,  religion's  holiest  shrine, 
0  give  his  spirit  undefiled 

To  blend  with  thine." 


On  my  return  home  to  Cincinnati,  after  the  burial  of 
my  mother,  I  felt  that  the  last  tie  which  bound  me  tc 
earth  was  now  severed,  and  I  had  no  care  on  my  mind 
of  an  earthly  nature.  I  resolved  to  consecrate  soul  and 
body  anew  to  the  service  of  my  adorable  Redeemer 
The  work  of  grace  progressed  in  my  soul  with  greater 
power,  and  I  had  greater  liberty  of  speech  in  proclaim- 
ing the  Gospel. 

Early  in  the  year  I  was  enabled  to  enter  into  a  solemn 
covenant  with  God,  to  walk  before  him  more  holily  and 
unblamably  all  the  days  of  my  earthly  pilgrimage.  Sa- 
tan tried  all  his  hellish  skill  to  prevent  the  surrender, 
but,  by  the  grace  of  God,  at  an  unlooked-for  moment,  I 
was  enabled  to  give  up  all  into  the  hands  of  my  blessed 
Master.  It  was  during  a  most  gracious  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit  of  God  in  Wesley  Chapel,  and  after  my  re- 
turn late  at  night  from  a  general  class  meeting.  I  feel 
it  my  duty  to  transcribe  it  here  in  honor  of  Him  to 
whom  I  still  belong.  God  grant  that  others  who  may 
read  these  " Foot-prints"  may  share  such  a  rich  blessing 
also ! 

THE   CONSECRATION. 

After  the  death  of  my  beloved  mother  in  the  fall 
of  1839  my  mind  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  ne- 
cessity of  seeking  earnestly  for  a  "clean  heart."  "Be  ye 
therefore  perfect,  even  as  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven 
is  perfect;"  "Ye  shall  be  holy,  for  I,  the  Lord  your  God, 
am  holy,"  was  constantly  sounding  in  my  ears,  and  also 
the  beautiful  words  of  one  of  our  well-known  hymns, 

"Thou  shalt  see  my  glory  soon 
When  the  loork  of  faith  is  done." 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI  241 

For  several  days  just  before  the  memorable  transac- 
tion here  recorded,  these  words  also  bore  with  unusual 
weight  upon  my  mind,  "Behold,  now  is  the  accepted 
time;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation  I" 

On  the  evening  of  the  5th  day  of  December,  while 
attending  a  general  class  meeting  at  Wesley  Chapel  in 
Cincinnati,  I  was  most  graciously  visited  by  the  power 
of  God;  and,  on  my  return  home,  I  could  say  of  a  truth, 
"My  heart  and  my  flesh  crieth  out  after  the  living  God." 
Rev.  A.  C,  then  stationed  in  the  city,  was  present  at 
our  society  meeting,  and  on  invitation  accompanied  me 
home  to  my  place  of  boarding,  to  remain  during  the 
night.  Brother  S.,  with  whom  I  was  boarding,  re- 
quested Rev.  A.  C.  to  lead  in  family  prayer,  and  while 
he  was  pouring  out  his  soul  in  fervent  supplication  the 
love  of  God  seemed  to  pervade  every  heart.  Immedi- 
ately after  prayers  the  family  retired.  In  company  with 
brother  CI  also  went  up  into  my  bed-chamber;  but,  on 
reflection,  I  soon  returned  down  stairs  again  to  bathe 
my  feet,  as  I  was  somewhat  indisposed,  from  too  frequent 
exposure  to  the  night  air  while  attending  the  protracted 
meeting.  On  re-entering  the  room  where  we  had  just 
offered  our  evening  sacrifice  of  prayer  and  praise,  I  re- 
alized that  the  Divine  glory  still  lingered  around  that 
sacred  altar.  The  power  of  God  moved  upon  my  heart, 
and  forcibly  impressed  my  mind  that  I  would  never  see 
a  more  favorable  time  for  the  consummation  of  a  long- 
cherished  desire  of  my  heart — a  settled  purpose  of  mind, 
to  make  a  solemn  and  formal  dedication  of  myself  to 
the  Almighty,  and  subscribe  with  my  own  hand  to  the 
God  of  Jacob.  I  was  also  deeply  impressed  and  clearly 
convinced:  1.  Of  the  absolute  necessity  of  holiness  of 
heart,  "  without  which  none  shall  see  the  Lord."  2.  The 
certainty  of  the  attainment  of  a  higher  state  of  religious 

enjoyment;  it  being  the  "will  of  God,  even  my  sanctifi- 
21 


242  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

cation. "  3.  The  simple  manner  of  obtaining  it — by  faith 
in  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.  "Thou  shalt  call  his  name 
Jesus,  because  he  shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins." 
Without  a  moment's  delay  I  resolved,  then  and  there, 
fully  to  trust  the  Lord;  unwavering  faith  apprehended 
the  efficiency  of  the  blood  of  Christ  to  u  cleanse  from  all 
sin."  My  anxious  and  burdened  soul  cried  out  with 
vehemence,  impatient  to  be  free, 

"  0,  kill  in  me  this  rebel  sin, 
And  reign  in  triumph  o'er  my  willing  heart." 

In  a  moment  I  felt  my  heart  melt  like  wax  before  the 
fire,  and  my  eyes  suffused  in  tears  of  joy.  I  then  rose 
from  my  seat  and  walked  about  the  room,  exclaiming  in 
an  audible  voice,  "I  am  the  Lord's!  I  am  the  Lord's!" 
I  then  fell  upon  my  knees,  and  made  an  offering  of  soul 
and  body  to  God  in  the  following  simple  manner:  "Here, 
Lord,  I  bring  to  thee  my  poor,  weakly  body,  and  sin-pol- 
luted soul;  take  me,  Jesus,  just  as  I  am."  At  that  mo- 
ment the  Holy  Ghost  pressed  home,  with  power,  the  fol- 
lowing interrogation:  "Do  you  give  up  all?"  Bringing 
to  my  recollection  a  "form  of  surrender"  mentioned  in 
Livy,  where  Egenious  had  inquired,  "Are  you  the  em- 
bassadors sent  by  the  people  of  Callatia,  that  you  may 
yield  up  yourselves  and  the  Callatine  people?"  It  was 
answered,  "We  are."  And  was  again  asked,  "Are  the 
Callatine  people  in  their  own  power?"  It  was  answered, 
"They  are."  It  was  further  inquired,  "Do  you  deliver 
up  yourselves,  the  people  of  Callatia,  your  city,  your 
fields,  your  waters,  your  bounds,  your  temples,  your  uten- 
tils — all  things  that  are  yours,  both  Divine  and  human, 
into  mine  and  the  people  of  Rome's  power?"  They  say, 
"  We  deliver  up  all."  And  he  answered,  "So  I  receive 
you."  After  repeating  these  words  several  times,  I  said, 
"Now,  0  my  God,  I  would  in  like  manner  deliver  up  all, 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI.  243 

my  soul  and  body;  all,  all — no  longer  mine,  but  thine,  to 
all  eternity.  Wilt  thou  now  receive  me?"  The  Holy 
Spirit  then  immediately  whispered  in  my  heart,  in  sweet- 
est accents,  "  Yes,  I  now  receive  you."  I  instantly  rose 
up  from  my  prostrate  position  on  the  floor,  and  exclaimed 
with  emphasis,  "I  am  the  Lord's  forever!  I  am  the 
Lord's  forever!  I  am  the  Lord's  forever!" 

I  then  concluded  I  would  go  up  stairs  and  make  a 
record  of  this  most  solemn  transaction  between  God  and 
my  soul,  in  my  journal,  calling  to  my  recollection  the 
striking  words  of  the  prophet,  "One  shall  say,  I  am  the 
Lord's;  and  another  shall  call  himself  by  the  name  of 
Jacob;  and  another  shall  subscribe  with  his  hand  unto 
the  Lord,  and  surname  himself  by  the  name  of  Israel." 

"0  God,  what  off 'ring  shall  I  give 

To  thee 

My  spirit,  soul,  and  flesh  receive, 

A  holy,  living  sacrifice : 

Small  as  it  is,  'tis  all  my  store ; 

More  thou  shouldst  have,  if  I  had  more. 

Now,  then,  my  God,  thou  hast  my  soul ; 
Xo  longer  mine,  but  thine,  I  am : 
Guard  thou  thine  own,  possess  it  whole; 
Cheer  it  with  hope,  with  love  inflame : 
Thou  hast  my  spirit ;  there  display 
Thy  glory  to  the  perfect  day." 

On  entering  my  bedroom  I  found  that  brother  C.  had 
retired  to  rest,  wondering  in  his  own  mind,  as  he  after- 
ward informed  me,  what  should  have  detained  me  so  long. 
My  only  reply  was,  that  "my  poor  soul  was  inexpressibly 
happy."  He  then  remarked,  "I  think,  brother  Gaddis, 
you  had  better  come  to  bed  soon,  as  the  room  is  cold,  and 
you  will  injure  your  health  by  sitting  up  so  late,  when  so 
much  indisposed."  I  then  very  deliberately  unlocked  the 
book-case,  and  took  out  my  journal,  determined,  by  the 
help  of  God,  not  to  give  sleep  to  eyes  nor  slumber  to  my 
eyelids  till  I  should  make  the  long-promised  dedication 


244       foot-prints   of  an   itinerant. 

of  myself  to  God  in  writing.  The  tempter  now  assaulted 
me  in  a  powerful  manner,  for  the  first  time  during  the 
whole  transaction,  and  suggested  that  I  had  better  defer 
it  till  the  morning,  and,  as  I  could  not  recollect  the  day 
of  the  month,  the  covenant  would  not  be  binding.  I 
listened  but  for  a  moment,  and  then  replied,  "Get  behind 
me,  Satan,  for  thou  art  an  offense  unto  me."  Blessed 
God,  Satan  was  bruised  under  my  feet,  and  I  was  left  in 
quiet  possession  of  the  victory,  so  unexpectedly  obtained. 
I  then,  with  much  deliberation,  inquired  of  brother  C. 
for  the  correct  time,  and  after  having  been  assured  that  I 
was  right,  I  made  the  following  record,  without  a  single 
moment's  premeditation: 

Half-past  ten  o'clock  on  this,  the  evening  of  the  fifth 
day  of  December,  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  thirty-nine — I  dedicate  my  soul  and  body 
anew,  a  living  sacrifice  unto  God;  and  reckon  myself  in- 
deed dead  to  sin  and  alive  to  God,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  from  this  time  henceforth  and  forever,  living 
or  dying,  to  be  the  Lord's. 

"ilv  life  and  blood  I  here  present, 
If  for  thy  truth  they  may  be  spent." 

Amen ! 
Maxwell  P.  Gaddis. 
Cincinnati,  Dec.  5,  1S39. 

After  the  signing  of  this  solemn  covenant  I  hastened 
to  bed.  I  felt  that  T  had  accomplished  at  last  what  I  had 
so  long  most  ardently  desired.  I  also  felt  an  inward 
satisfaction  which  I  had  never  experienced  before.  I 
could  not  sleep.  My  mind  was  impressed  in  a  way  and 
manner  unknown  before.  After  some  time  had  elapsed  I 
remarked  to  brother  C,  that  I  was  dying,  but  that  I  was 
not  alarmed.  He  then  remarked,  that  from  the  moment 
I  entered  the  room  and  told  him  I  was  so  happy,  his  own 
emotions   had   been   very   peculiar.     I   recollect   that  he 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI.  245 

wept  as  lie  talked  of  the  state  of  his  feelings.  For  a 
little  season  my  frail  body  seemed  to  sink,  and  I  was  as 
cold  apparently  as  if  the  vital  spark  had  fled;  but  on  a 
sudden  the  power  of  the  Most  High  overshadowed  me; 
my  whole  frame  shook  as  if  I  had  been  seized  with  a 
severe  fit  of  the  ague.  This  feeling  was  of  but  short 
continuance;  the  Holy  Ghost  resuscitated  my  feeble 
frame  and  filled  my  soul  unutterably  full  of  glory  and  of 
God.  My  physical  powers  were  strengthened  in  a  most 
wonderful  manner,  and  I  shouted  aloud  for  joy  upon  my 
bed.  For  a  short  time  I  was  perfectly  overwhelmed  with 
a  sense  of  the  power  and  majesty  of  Jehovah.  At  times 
it  seemed  to  me  as  if  the  frail  casket  would  break  and  my 
disinthralled  spirit 

"Return  on  swiftest  wing" 
to  mingle  with  the  " blood-washed"  before  the  throne. 
I  cried  out  in  the  fullness  of  my  soul,  "0,  yes,  it  is  done ! 
I  am  my  Lord's,  and  he  is  mine — forever,  forever,  for 
evermore!  Brother  C,  the  l record'  is  at  last  made — 
the  great  transaction  is  finished — I  am  now  the  Lord's,  and 
he  is  mine!  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  from  this 
time  henceforth  and  forever.  Amen,  and  amen."  I  then 
thought  of  a  dream  which  the  Rev.  L.  L.  H.  had  con- 
cerning me,  a  few  nights  previous,  that  seemed  to  have 
made  a  deep  impression  on  his  own  heart.  He  stated 
that  in  his  dream  he  saw  me  "die  suddenly  while  stand- 
ing in  the  altar  at  Wesley  Chapel."  Referring  to  his 
dream,  in  my  ecstasy  I  exclaimed,  "0  yes,  brother  H.,  I 
am  indeed  dying — yea,  I  am  now  dead — but  I  am  dying 
unto  sin.  Glory,  halleluiah  !  Amen.  I  now  reckon  my- 
self dead  unto  sin,  but  alive  unto  God.  The  dead  praise 
him  not,  but  the  living  shall  praise  him  as  I  do  this  dav. 

•  I'll  praise  my  Maker  while  I've  breath, 
And  when  my  voice  is  lost  in  death, 
Praise  shall  my  nobler  powers  employ 
In  that  eternal  world  of  joy.' " 


246         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

AU  my  bodily  weaknesses  were  overcome,  and  I  felt 

"  Strong  in  the  strength  -which  God  supplies 
Through  his  eternal  Son." 

All  language  utterly  fails  to  convey  to  the  reader  any 
adequate  idea  of  the  power  felt  within  me.  It  did  seem 
to  me  that  I  had  power  and  compass  of  voice  to  arouse 
the  city  of  Cincinnati — yea,  even  a  slumbering  world; 

"  To  bid  their  hearts  rejoice 
In  Him  who  died  for  all." 

But  after  shouting  aloud  and  praising  God  for  a  consid 
erable  time,  I  became  anxious  that  all  the  household  should 
share  of  my  joy  and  cup  of  blessedness.  I  then  called  to 
brother  S.,  who  slept  in  an  adjoining  room,  to  come  in 
and  hear  uwhat  great  things  the  Lord  had  done  for  me." 
His  aged  mother  entered  my  room  first,  and  after  shaking 
my  hand,  kindly  remarked  that  I  must  not  think  of  get- 
ting up  till  she  had  roused  up  the  fire  in  the  grate,  which 
was  almost,  if  not  quite,  extinguished.  I  now  distinctly 
recollect,  that  in  the  simplicity  of  my  heart  I  remarked 
as  follows:  "0,  never  mind,  my  dear  mother  W.,  there 
is  fire  enough  in  my  soul  just  now  to  keep  us  all  warm. 
Go  and  get  your  son  T.  to  come  in  and  seek  the  Savior." 
It  was  not  long  till  her  son  and  his  wife  arose  and  dressed 
themselves.  They  entered  my  room  together,  weeping 
as  they  came.  I  called  brother  S.  to  the  side  of  my  bed 
and  told  him  to  kneel  down.  I  had  faith  to  believe  that 
God  would  convert  him  that  very  night.  I  then  remind- 
ed him  of  the  promise  I  had  made  him  when  I  came  to 
board  in  his  family — to  pray  for  him  once  each  day  till 
he  should  be  made  a  partaker  of  like  precious  faith  with 
myself.  I  then  told  him  that  this  was  the  "  accepted 
time  and  the  day  of  salvation."  After  which  his  heart 
melted  like  wax  before  the  fire,  and  he  fell  upon  his  knees 
and  cried  aloud  for  God  to  have  mercy  upon  him.     In  the 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI.  247 

mean  time  the  Rev.  A.  C.  arose  and  dressed  himself,  but 
seemed  to  be  so  filled  and  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of 
the  presence  of  God  that  he  was  rendered  unable  either 
to  sing  or  pray.  The  wife  of  brother  S.,  after  shouting 
awhile,  fell  prostrate  and  helpless  on  the  floor  by  the  side 
of  her  husband.  I  still  continued  at  intervals  shouting 
and  praising  God.  The  servant  girl  also  came  in  and 
began  to  pray  for  pardoning  mercy.  The  scene  was  one 
of  great  moral  sublimity.  The  room  was  filled  with  the 
power  and  glory  of  God  in  a  most  extraordinary  manner. 
I  asked  brother  C.  to  pray  for  those  who  were  seeking 
Christ.  He  replied,  "I  feel  so  overwhelmed  with  a  sense 
of  the  Divine  glory  and  my  own  unworthiness  that  I  want 
you  or  some  one  to  pray  for  me.  0,"  said  he,  "I  feel  so 
humbled  that  I  would  be  glad  to  have  the  poorest  African 
pray  for  me."  I  then  arose  from  my  bed,  put  on  my 
clothing  and  my  cloak,  and  started  down  stairs.  Mother 
TT.  followed  me  and  caught  hold  of  my  cloak,  and  said, 
"My  dear  child,  where  are  you  going?  I  am  not  willing 
for  you  to  leave  your  room."  I  calmly  replied,  "Bo  not 
be  alarmed,  I  am  not  ( beside  myself;'  I  feel  perfectly 
calm  and  collected,  as  much  so  as  I  ever  did  in  all  my 
life.  Let  me  go;  I  will  soon  return  again.  Go  and  pray 
for  your  son,  and  leave  me  in  the  hands  of  God."  I  went 
up  street  to  the  house  of  brother  A.,  and  after  awaking 
him  from  his  midnight  slumbers,  informed  him  that  I 
wished  him  to  come  to  my  room  and  pray  for  brother  S. 
He  very  cordially  assented,  and  I  immediately  returned. 
It  was  not  long  till  brother  A.  came,  according  to  promise, 
and  as  soon  as  he  entered  the  room  I  requested  him  to 
pray  for  brother  S.  We  all  kneeled  before  the  Lord,  our 
Maker,  and  poured  out  our  fervent  prayers  in  behalf  of 
the  weeping  mourner.  Glory  be  to  God,  we  did  not 
agonize  long;  the  voice  of  deliverance  came,  the  cry  of 
anguish   ceased,   and   the  weeping  son  lay  quiet  in  the 


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WESLEY    CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI.  249 

with  the  Church.  He  took  this  important  step  at  the 
request  of  a  dying  brother.  His  mother  was  a  deeply 
pious  woman,  and  has  since  gone  to  her  reward  in  the 
skies.  His  brother  Morris,  who  has  also  joined  the  num- 
ber of  the  finally  saved,  was  one  of  the  most  devoted  and 
fervent  followers  of  the  Lamb  that  I  have  ever  known. 

That  was  a  memorable  night;  one  that  shall  never  be 
forgotten.  It  was  a  special  blessing  sent  to  prepare  me 
to  stand  a  severe  "  trial  of  my  faith. "  It  also  prepared 
me  to  preach  the  Gospel  more  successfully  than  I  had 
ever  done  before. 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

EXTRACTS      FROM      MY     DIARY     AT     WESLEY 
CHAPEL. 

Four  days  after  God  so  signally  manifested  himself  to 
my  soul,  I  find  the  following  record  in  my  diary  under 
date  of  December  9,  1839  : 

Yesterday — Sabbath — was  a  day  of  peace  and  untold 
joy  to  my  poor  soul — had  the  pleasure  of  preaching 
again  to  the  people  of  M'Kendree  charge,  where  I  was 
stationed  last  year.  Sermon  from  these  words:  "And  to 
know  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge,  that 
ye  might  be  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God,"  etc.  It 
was  a  melting  time.  I  felt  the  power  of  God  resting 
upon  me ;  I  had  great  liberty  and  boldness  of  speech. 

December  10. — Yesterday  I  enjoyed  much  of  the  Di- 
vine presence  in  the  class-room,  by  the  bedside  of  the 
sick,  and  in  attending  on  other  means  of  grace.  This 
morning  I  feel  that  all  is  calm — no  doubt,  no  fears,  no 
gloom.  My  confidence  in  God  is  unwavering.  It  appears 
as  if  I  had  been  sleeping  all  my  life,  and  had  just  awak- 


250  FOOT- PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

ened   to  behold    the    unobstructed   rays  of   a  summer's 
morning. 

"  0  may  I  ever  walk  in  Him, 
And  nothing  know  beside; 
Nothing  desire,  nothing  esteem, 
But  Jesus  crucified!" 

December  13,  1839. — Since  last  night  week  I  have  en- 
joyed more  of  the  love  of  God  than  I  ever  have  done 
before.  My  peace  is  constant;  "God  is  love."  I  know 
that  I  am  his  by  sacred  ties.  I  feel  that  because  "he 
lives  I  shall  live  also."  This  day  four  years  ago  I  left 
Brush  Creek  Forge  and  all  my  friends  to  preach  the 
"Lamb  of  God  for  sinners  slain."  0  how  little  advance- 
ment I  have  made  in  divine  things !  This  day  I  renew 
vny  covenant.  0  Lord  give  me  greater  success  in  declar- 
ing thy  truth !  When  I  look  upon  the  past  I  feel  aston- 
ished that  such  a  worm  as  I  has  ever  been  used  by  God 
to  spread  the  Savior's  precious  name.  I  have  "enlisted" 
many  hundreds  of  soldiers  for  Jesus.  0  that  I  may  yet 
live  to  enlist  thousands  more  !  0  Lord,  give  me  many 
souls  in  Cincinnati !  Why  am  I  here  if  not  to  win  souls 
for  thee? 

December  18. — Last  Sabbath  was  a  pleasant  day  to  my 
soul.  Preached  in  the  morning  at  Asbury  Chapel  and 
attended  sacrament  at  Fourth-street  at  3  o'clock,  P.  31. 
Last  night  we  had  a  precious  season  at  Wesley  Chapel. 
Nine  were  converted  and  nine  added  to  the  Church.  The 
preachers  were  all  very  happy,  and  many  of  God's  dear 
children  shouted  aloud  for  joy.  Our  prospects  are  grow- 
ing brighter  and  brighter.  0  that  God  may  visit  Cin- 
cinnati this  winter  in  a  most  gracious  manner! 

December  30. — Last  week  Satan  thrust  sorely  at  mc 
and  "afflicted  my  soul  f  but,  thank  God!  I  obtained  a 
glorious  victory.  Yesterday  was  a  day  of  great  peace 
and  glory.     God   is  still  reviving  his  work  in  Weslej 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI.  251 

Chapel;  sinners  are  coming  home  to  God,  and  my  "soul 
is  on  the  wing"  for  glory. 

January  1,  1840. — This  morning  I  feel  happy  in  God, 
and  more  like  living  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  cross 
of  Christ  than  ever  before.  Last  night  we  "  watched 
out"  the  old  year  at  Wesley  Chapel.  It  was  the  most 
solemn  time  I  ever  witnessed  ;  twenty  united  with  the 
Church,  and  more  than  two  hundred  asked  the  prayers  of 
the  people  of  God.  The  Lord  is  now  powerfully  reviv- 
ing his  work.  I  want  to  be  more  useful.  O  Lord,  make 
me  a  " polished  shaft!"  0  that  this  year  may  all  be 
spent  in  glorifying  God  ! 

January  6. — It  is  now  one  month  since  I  dedicated 
myself  to  God  and  recorded  it  with  my  own  hand.  I  feel 
more  than  ever  like  living  for  God.  I  believe  many  sore 
trials  await  me,  but  I  am  also  persuaded  that  grace  divine 
will  always  give  me  support  and  consolation  in  them  all. 
'•'Fear  not,  I  am  with  thee;  I  am  thy  God;  I  will  help 
thee.     Yea,  I  will  uphold  thee." 

February  9. — I  was  not  mistaken  in  supposing  that 
"sore  trials"  awaited  me  when  I  last  wrote  in  this  diary. 
I  have  recently  passed  through  some  sore  and  fiery  trials. 
Of  late  u  Satan  has  desired  to  sift  me  as  wheat."  At 
times  I  have  viewed  myself  as  standing  on  some  high 
eminence  or  tower,  exposed  to  Satan's  shafts  from  every 
point  of  the  compass;  but  blessed  be  God!  "who  always 
causeth  us  to  triumph,"  I  feel  like  the  "bird  rescued 
from  the  snare  of  the  fowler."  This  Sabbath  evening 
my  soul  rejoices  in  God  my  Savior. 

The  following  extracts  from  a  communication,  which  I 
wrote  for  the  Western  Christian  Advocate,  will  give  the 
reader  an  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  revival  at  Wesley 
Chapel  at  this  period : 

Easterx  Charge,  Cixcixxati,  0.,  Jak.  27,  1840. 
We   commenced   the   labors   of   this   conference    year 


252  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AX    ITINERANT. 

praying  for  a  most  gracious  outpouring  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  Our  congregation  increased  at  every  coming  to- 
gether, and  a  goodly  number  began  to  inquire,  u  Men 
and  brethren,  what  shall  we  do  to  be  saved?"  About  the 
first  of  December  our  beloved  brother,  the  Rev.  J  X. 
Maffit,  came  among  us  in  the  name  of  his  Master,  de- 
termined to  labor  some  weeks  in  our  city  for  the  good  of 
souls.  For  seven  weeks  God  has  given  proof  that  his 
indefatigable  labors  have  not  been  in  vain.  Thousands 
upon  thousands  have  attended  his  ministry,  and  there 
has  been  a  general  waking  up  and  rallying  around  the 
cross.  The  altar  is  crowded  night  after  night,  and  souls 
are  awakened  and  converted  at  every  coming  together. 
In  this  revival  whole  families,  husbands  and  wives,  par- 
ents and  children,  have  been  brought  into  the  Church. 
On  the  10th  and  11th  of  January  our  second  quarterly 
meeting  was  held  for  this  station.  Our  beloved  Christie 
was  with  us,  and  proclaimed  the  message  of  mercy  to  the 
people  with  eloquence  and  power.  Our  love-feast  may 
well  be  called  the  "  Centenary  Mammoth  Love- Feast." 
Every  seat  in  our  large  and  spacious  Chapel,  above  and 
below,  was  crowded  at  an  early  hour.  It  was  indeed  a 
feast  of  Jove ;  a  night  of  glory  and  salvation.  Fifty- 
seven  joined  the  Church,  making  in  all,  on  trial  and  by 
letter,  over  eight  hundred  this  year.  On  Tuesday  night 
we  held  a  sacramental  meeting.  A  more  solemn  and 
interesting  scene  was  never  witnessed.  Xearly  ote  thou- 
sand partook  of  the  broken  body  and  shed  blood  of  the 
Son  of  God.  It  was  a  night  long  to  be  remembered  on 
earth,  and  will  not  be  forgotten  in  heaven.  This  gracious 
work,  which  first  commenced  in  Wesley,  is  spreading  all 
over  the  city,  and  many  are  turning  to  the  Lord  also  in 
the  Baptist  and  Presbyterian  Churches. 

E.  W.  Sehon, 
Maxwell  P.  Gaddis. 


WESLEY     CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI.  253 

P.  S.  There  is  also  a  glorious  work  in  New-Street 
among  our  colored  friends.  Upward  of  sixty  added  last 
week.  E.  W.  S. 

m.  p.  a. 

February  18. — I  am  now  in  Ripley,  Ohio.  I  came 
here  to  hear  a  funeral  sermon  from  Rev.  Joseph  M.  Trim- 
ble, D.  D.,  on  the  death  of  my  dear  mother,  who  departed 
this  life  November  10,  1839.  His  text  was  founded  on 
these  beautiful  words,  "Whosoever  liveth  and  believeth 
in  me  shall  never  die."  It  was  truly  an  eloquent  and 
appropriate  sermon,  and  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those 
who  heard  it.  I  know  my  mother  is  shining  among  the 
redeemed  in  that  bright  world,  where  the  inhabitants  are 
free  from  disease  and  death.  Mother,  I  will  never  forget 
shee.     Thy  memory  is  sweet.     "Peace  to  thy  ashes." 

"  My  mother!  0  my  mother  !  thoughts  of  thee 
Come  o'er  my  spirit  like  the  dews  of  heaven 
Upon  the  fading  flowers.    Best  beloved  of  all, 
The  dear  departed !    To  thy  child  thine  image 
Rises  in  thy  mournful  sweetness 
And  touching  beauty  fading  from  the  earth. 
I  hear  thy  voice  as  when  I  knelt  before  thee, 
And  thou  didst  lay  thy  hand  upon  my  head, 
And  raise  thy  tearful  eye  to  heaven  in  prayer 
To  Him  who,  though  the  mother  leave  her  child, 
Will  not  forsake  the  orphan.     Thy  full 
Soul  was  poured  in  supplication,  dying  saint. 
Wert  thou  not  here  ?     Surely  thou  wert.     By  Him 
Who,  loving  thee,  hath  called  thee  to  himself! 
Surely  thou  wert ;  even  now  that  voice  of  prayer 
Is  floating  round  me,  breathing  hope  and  peace. 
Thy  God  has  been  my  God,  thy  trust  my  trust ; 
His  goodness  faileth  not.     0  may  he  grant 
That  yet  the  mother,  with  her  children,  may 
Bow  to  worship  Him,  the  merciful,  the 
Good,  the  faithful  friend  of  sinners, 
In  that  bright  temple  where  no  tone  of  sorrow 
Is  mingling  in  the  rapturous  burst  of  praise !" 

Io  the  month  of  March  I  was  called  to  preach  the 
funeral  sermon  of  Doctor  Bragdon,  a  son-in-law  of  the 


264  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

late   Rev.   John   Collins,   the    particulars    of   which    are 
related  in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

FUNERAL  SERMON  OF  E.  BRAGDON,  M .  E. 

Early  in  the  spring  a  messenger  called  upon  me  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  Dr.  E.  Bragdon,~son-in-law  of  the 
late  venerable  John  Collins,  of  the  Ohio  conference. 
The  residence  of  the  deceased  was  about  eleven  miles 
distant  from  the  city,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Little 
3iianii  river.  The  burial  was  to  take  place  at  Salem 
Chapel,  in  what  is  called  the  M'Corniick  settlement. 
The  corpse  was  to  be  brought  to  the  church,  and  the 
funeral  service  to  take  place  at  11  o'clock,  A.  M.  As  I 
had  received  notice  on  Friday,  I  had  all  the  time  which 
I  desired  to  make  the  necessary  preparation.  I  selected 
a  text  and  took  the  greater  part  of  Saturday  in  studying 
and  arranging  my  funeral  discourse.  From  the  character 
of  Doctor  Bragdon,  and  his  connection  with  the  family 
of  father  Collins,  and  the  funeral  to  take  place  on  the 
Sabbath  in  the  country,  I  knew  would  bring  together  a 
very  large  concourse  of  people.  I  felt  it  to  be  my  im- 
perative duty  to  go  well  prepared,  so  as  to  make  the  occa- 
sion one  of  profit  to  all  who  might  attend. 

A  carriage  was  to  call  for  me  early  on  Sabbath  morning 
and  convey  me  to  the  place  appointed  for  the  services.  I 
spent  a  restless,  feverish  night;  an  unusual  sense  of  my 
responsibility  rested  heavily  upon  my  soul.  The  morn- 
ing dawned,  and  after  an  early  breakfast  I  started  to  the 
funeral.  We  soon  reached  the  place  in  safety  and  stop- 
ped at  the  house  of  brother  John  Mears,  contiguous  to 
the  church.     My  mind  was  very  much  occupied  in  study- 


FUNERAL    OP    E.    BRAGDON,    M.     D.  255 

ing  the  sermon  which  I  had  prepared,  till  about  an  hour 
before  the  time  fixed  upon  for  the  services,  when  a 
stranger  came  into  the  room  and  inquired  if  the  messen- 
ger who  went  to  the  city  to  invite  me  to  preach  the  sermon 
gave  m.3  the  text.  I  replied,  "No,  what  do  you  mean? 
I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  you."  He  explained  by  re- 
marking, that  a  few  moments  before  the  Doctor  died  he 
asked  his  wife  to  bring  him  the  New  Testament,  and  he 
would  show  her  the  passage  of  Scripture  from  which  he 
desired  his  funeral  sermon  should  be  preached.  I  told 
him  I  had  heard  nothing  about  it,  and  asked  him  if  he 
would  please  tell  me  where  it  was.  He  remarked  that  he 
thought  he  could  find  the  chapter,  but  did  not  know  what 
verse.  I  looked  over  the  one  he  showed  me,  but  could 
not  discover  any  thing  from  which  I  had  ever  preached 
or  thought  I  could  preach.  No  language  could  ever  de- 
scribe my  perturbation  of  mind  at  this  unexpected  intel- 
ligence. I  made  inquiry  of  the  family  and  of  all  who 
came  in,  but  none  could  give  me  the  text. 

From  the  first  announcement,  however,  I  felt  satisfied 
in  my  own  mind  that  it  was  not  the  one  I  had  been 
studying  with  so  much  care  the  day  and  night  previous. 
Time  passed  away  apparently  as  quick  as  thought,  till  at 
length  it  was  announced  that  the  procession  was  in  sight, 
and  would  arrive  in  about  thirty  minutes,  at  which  time 
a  gentleman  came  in,  who  informed  me  where  the  text 
was  to  be  found,  and  the  wish  of  the  deceased  and  his 
friends  that  I  should  preach  from  that  one  and  nothing 
else.  He  seemed  to  be  greatly  surprised  that  the  "mes- 
senger" sent  to  the  city  did  not  give  me  this  intelligence 
on  Friday  evening.  The  dilemma  into  which  I  was 
brought  can  be  better  imagined  than  described.  I  had 
never  preached  from  the  text,  and  had  now  no  time  to 
make  any  preparation.  Not  to  preach  from  it  would  be 
a  great  disappointment  to  the  friends  of  the  deceased. 


256  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

To  say  to  the  congregation  that  I  had  no  time  to  prepare, 
and,  therefore,  must  speak  from  the  one  I  had  previously 
selected,  would  be  an  acknowledgment  that  a  Methodist 
minister  never  was  willing  to  make.  To  take  the  text 
and  preach  without  any  "  preparation/'  and  fail  to  meet 
the  wishes  of  the  people,  would  also  be  very  humiliating. 
I  walked  the  floor  in  a  state  of  deep  mental  agony.  As 
I  had  no  time  for  study,  I  resolved  to  go  into  the  next 
room  and  spend  the  remainder  of  the  time  in  prayer  for 
Divine  direction  and  assistance.  I  closed  the  door  with 
the  Bible  in  my  hand  and  the  text  selected  by  the  dying 
man  before  my  eyes.  I  fell  upon  my  knees  and  wept  and 
cried  to  God  for  help  in  this  the  time  of  need.  Then  to 
my  great  relief  I  thought  of  a  dream  which  I  had  on 
the  previous  night,  which  made  such  a  deep  impression 
on  my  mind,  but  in  the  excitement  of  the  funeral  occa- 
sion had  been  entirely  lost  sight  of.  As  soon  as  it  came 
to  my  mind,  I  said,  "  That  is  just  what  I  wanted.  I  will 
throw  myself  off  into  the  stream  and  trust  to  God."  I 
ceased  to  pray,  and  arose  from  my  knees  and  said,  "That 
is  it,  my  blessed  Master;  I  will  trust  and  not  be  afraid. " 
My  dream  was  as  follows :  I  thought  I  had  started  on 
a  journey  in  company  with  others.  We  traveled  on  to- 
gether pleasantly  for  some  time  without  meeting  with 
any  obstruction,  when,  on  a  sudden,  we  came  in  contact 
with  a  rapid  stream,  which  looked  turbid  and  very  angry. 
We  were  informed  the  water  was  too  deep  to  cross  at  the 
regular  ford,  and  to  attempt  it  would  be  a  forfeiture  of 
our  lives.  I  replied,  u  I  am  obliged  to  go  over  this  stream, 
yea,  I  am  obliged  to  cross  it  now."  I  then  looked  up  and 
down  the  stream  to  see  if  there  was  any  place  that  I 
might  cross  with  more  safety.  At  length  I  discovered  a 
tree  which  seemed  to  project  almost  to  the  other  shore. 
I  told  my  companions  I  would  go  down  and  cross  there. 
They  laughed  me  to  scorn,  and  said  it  was  impossible.     I 


'i 


JUNERAL    OF    E.     BRAGDON,     M.     D.         257 

then  told  them  the  second  time  I  must  cross  the  stream, 
and  I  could  but  try.  I  went  to  the  place,  removed 
my  boots,  and  walked  with  great  caution  out  on  the  log. 
It  was  very  slippery,  and  I  found  it  very  difficult  to  stand 
upon  my  feet.  At  length  I  arrived  at  the  end  of  the 
trunk,  and  found  it  did  not  reach  the  shore  by  some 
twenty  or  thirty  feet.  I  looked  into  the  stream  before 
me.  The  dark  waters  rolled  swiftly  by,  threatening  to 
devour  me.  But  I  was  calm  and  undismayed,  and  said 
in  an  audible  voice,  "Now,  Lord,  I  have  done  all  that  I 
can:  I  am  obliged  to  cross  this  stream;  I  will,  therefore, 
throw  myself  into  the  current  and  trust  in  thine  almighty 
arm  to  bring  me  in  safety  to  the  other  shore."  And 
suiting  the  action  to  the  words  I  leaped  into  the  dashing 
billows.  To  my  great  joy,  when  my  feet  touched  the 
water,  it  was  as  clear  as  crystal,  and  only  apparently 
about  eighteen  inches  deep.  I  threw  up  my  hands  and 
clapped  them  for  joy,  and  exclaimed,  "I  am  safe!  I  am 
safe !  0  is  not  this  delightful  I"  The  water  was  so  re- 
freshing I  walked  up  the  stream  some  distance  before  I 
went  to  the  shore  on  the  other  side.  When  I  ascended 
to  the  top  of  the  bank  I  looked  back  into  the  stream — 
the  dark  rolling  flood  had  entirely  disappeared  and  I  dis- 
covered a  great  number  of  fishes  thrown  out  upon  its 
shores. 

This  was  my  dream,  and  when  it  came  to  my  mind 
again  I  discovered  the  hand  of  God  in  it  all.  I  soon 
made  a  division  of  the  text  and  started  for  the  church 
to  meet  the  funeral  procession.  As  I  walked  along  the 
tempter  came  to  me  and  said,  "What!  presumptuous 
man,  are  you  going  to  preach  from  that  text,  inexperi- 
enced as  you  are,  and  before  such  an  intelligent  congre- 
gation, without  a  timely  preparation?"  I  promptly  re- 
sponded, "Yes!  Get  behind  me  thou  'accuser  of  the 
brethren.'  I  will  this  da v  '  throw  myself  off  into  the 
22 


258  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

stream  and  trust  in  God/  This  is  a  time  of  need,  and 
man's  extremity  is  God's  opportunity.  I  know  God  will 
not  forsake  me;  for  it  is  written,  'It  shall  be  given  you 
in  that  hour  what  ye  shall  speak.'  " 

The  death  of  Doctor  B.  was  universally  regretted.  He 
was  greatly  beloved  by  his  friends  and  neighbors.  Foi 
many  years  he  had  been  in  sentiment  a  Universalist,  and 
had  been  very  industrious  to  persuade  others  to  embrace 
the  same  dangerous  heresy;  but  about  five  years  previous 
to  his  decease  he  was  " recovered  out  of  the  snare"  of 
the  devil  and  soundly  converted  to  God,  at  a  Methodist 
camp  meeting.  After  his  conversion  he  tried  in  every 
possible  way,  both  in  private  and  public,  to  undo  the  evil 
tendency  of  his  example  and  counteract,  as  far  as  he 
could,  the  influence  of  his  erroneous  teachings.  His 
death  was  calm  and  peaceful,  and  he  made  the  selection 
of  the  text  for  his  funeral  sermon  with  reference  to  his 
former  life  and  the  wonderful  mercy  of  God  in  his  salva- 
tion. These  facts  were  generally  known,  and  it  had 
attracted  many  to  the  house  of  God  that  seldom  attended. 
Indeed,  I  was  afterward  informed  that  there  were  some 
persons  present  on  that  occasion  who  had  not  heard  a 
Gospel  sermon  for  ten  years  before.  After  singing  and 
prayer  I  arose  and  announced  the  text,  which  was  as  fol- 
lows :  "This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  accept- 
ation, that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sin- 
ners, of  whom  I  am  chief."  1  Timothy  i,  15.  I  remem- 
ber that  I  commenced  by  simply  remarking,  that  I  had 
no  doubt  but  that  I  would  have  the  attention,  prayers, 
and  sympathy  of  the  people  of  God,  and  perhaps  of  the 
whole  congregation,  when  I  informed  them  the  text  was 
one  from  which  I  had  never  preached,  and  that  I  now 
stood  before  them  without  any  previous  preparation,  hav- 
ing learned  only  about  twenty-five  or  thirty  minutes  since 
that  I  was  expected  to  preach  from  these  beautiful  words; 


FUNERAL    OF    E.     BRA6D0N,     M.     D.         259 

but  as  the  cold  remains  of  hint  who  had  made  this  appro- 
priate selection  now  lay  before  me  in  the  altar,  I  would 
try  to  comply  with  his  last  dying  request  in  the  best  way 
and  manner  that  I  could.  I  proceeded  to  speak  of  the 
worthiness  of  this  salvation,  and  offered  many  reasons 
why  we  should  all  accept  it.  I  had  spoken  but  a  few 
minutes  when  I  began  to  feel  the  power  of  the  Most  High 
to  overshadow  me  in  a  most  wonderful  manner.  What  I 
said  after  this,  or  the  peculiar  manner  in  which  I  said  it. 
I  have  no  recollection,  but  the  spirit  of  awakening  power 
seized  the  impenitent,  and  there  was  an  extraordinary 
"shaking  among  the  dry  bones"  in  the  congregation. 
The  voice  of  Him  who  once  said,  "  Young  man,  I  say  unto 
thee,  arise ! "  was  now  speaking  through  his  word  to  the 
hearts  of  sinners  with  convincing  energy.  Tears  and 
sighs  filled  the  house.  I  then  exhorted  all  present  to 
accept  of  this  salvation  before  the  "  Master  should  rise  up 
and  shut  to  the  door,"  and  closed  by  expressing  the  hope 
that  every  one  of  us,  when  called  to  die,  might  be  able  to 
select  this  portion  of  the  word  of  God  as  applicable  to 
our  own  case — "  to  save  sinners,  of  whom  I  am  chief,"  or 
sing,  as  did  Mr.  Wesley, 

"I  the  chief  of  sinners  am, 
But  Jesus  died  for  me." 

The  services  closed  by  singing,  as  the  corpse  was  carried 
out  of  the  church  for  interment, 

"  Why  do  we  mourn  for  dying  friends, 
Or  shake  at  death's  alarms? 
'Tis  but  the  voice  that  Jesus  sends 
To  call  them  to  his  arms." 

The  day  on  which  I  preached  that  sermon  was  the  reg- 
ular appointment  of  the  circuit  preacher.  On  hearing  of 
the  funeral  he  sent  word  that  he  would  not  be  present, 
but  would  preach   at   some    other   place    that  day,    and 


260  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

requested  that  I  should  give  out  an  appointment  for  him 
in  the  same  church  on  the  following  Monday  evening. 
On  coming  to  his  appointment  he  found  an  unusually 
large  congregation  in  attendance,  and  great  solemnity 
rested  on  every  face.  He  preached  with  much  liberty 
and  power,  and  felt  constrained  by  the  Spirit  to  invite 
seekers  of  religion  to  come  to  the  altar  for  prayers.  To 
his  great  surprise  some  twenty  or  thirty  rushed  to  the 
altar  of  prayer.  Many  were  converted  on  that  evening, 
and  the  meeting  was  protracted  for  a  number  of  days 
The  following  extract  from  a  letter  I  received  shortly 
after  the  beginning  of  this  meeting,  will  throw  some  light 
upon  this  interesting  subject: 

"March  27,  1840. 

"Dear  Brother  G-addis, — Allow  me  to  say,  without 
any  design  to  natter,  that  God,  in  infinite  goodness  and 
mercy,  has  deigned  to  pour  out  his  Spirit  on  M'Cormick's 
settlement,  in  Salem  Chapel.  Those  dry  and  sterile  lands 
of  Zion  have  been  refreshed  by  glorious  showers  of  heav- 
enly rain;  and  this  joyful  reformation  was  brought  about 
by  your  energetic  preaching.  You  will  remember  that  on 
last  Sunday  week,  you  preached  for  them  at  Salem  Chapel 
a  funeral  discourse  on  the  death  of  Doctor  Bragdon. 
Since  that  time  the  whole  country  round  about  appears 
to  have  been  awakened  from  their  lethargy  and  sin.  The 
farmers  leave  their  plows  and  fields  of  labor,  and  flock  to 
the  house  of  the  Lord.  They  keep  up  meeting  almost 
every  night,  and  sometimes  during  the  day.  About 
twenty  have  united  with  the  Church.  But  I  will  not  give 
you  the  particulars  of  the  meeting.  You  must  make 
haste  and  come  down,  and  go  and  see  for  yourself.  We 
received  the  glad  intelligence  to-day  from  a  gentleman 
who  came  directly  from  the  meeting.  The  people  cut 
there  have  sent  special  word  for  you  to  come  and  help 
them  immediately." 


FUNERAL    OF    E.    BRAGDON,     M.     D.         261 

This  letter,  which  contained  many  more  words  of  kind- 
ness, reached  me  some  fifty  miles  distant,  while  on  a  visit 
among  my  friends;  but  I  soon  bade  them  all  adieu,  and 
retraced  my  footsteps  to  the  scene  of  battle.  I  reached 
there  on  Thursday  night,  and  found  the  work  still  pro- 
gressing. Father  Collins  was  there,  to  work  and  rejoice. 
I  tried  to  preach  as  best  I  could,  and  when  I  saw  the 
grace  of  God  I  was  glad.  0,  how  it  rejoiced  my  heart  to 
learn  that  many  of  the  new  converts  dated  their  awaken- 
ing from  my  feeble,  unstudied  sermon  at  the  funeral  of 
Doctor  Bragdon. 

About  sixty  were  converted  before  the  meeting  closed, 
and  many  of  them  added  to  the  visible  Church.  As  I 
stood  in  their  midst  I  thought  I  could  clearly  discern  the 
overruling  hand  of  God  in  all  the  circumstances  connect- 
ed with  the  death  and  funeral  services  of  that  child  of 
God,  whose  cold  remains  were  sleeping  near  the  church, 
but  whose  voice  was  still  sounding  in  the  ears  of  the  liv- 
ing, "  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  accept- 
ation, that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sin- 
ners, of  whom  I  am  chief."  And  as  we  rejoiced  over  the 
young  convert  and  tasted  of  the  "healing  waters  of  life," 
I  cried  out,  as  I  did  in  my  dream,  when  standing  in  the 
stieam,  "0,  is  this  not  delightful!"  the  number  of  con- 
verts a  fit  representation  of  the  fishes  discovered  along 
the  shore  after  the  dark  waters  had  all  rolled  by.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  the  circumstances,  taken  altogether,  made 
an  impression  on  my  mind  that  time  will  never  efface. 


262         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT 


CHAPTER   XXXIX. 

MAFFITT's     LETTERS  —  A    VISIT     TO    BALTI- 
MORE. 

Rev.  John  Newlanb  Maffitt,  after  laboring  with  us 
for  more  than  two  months,  left  us,  to  preach  for  a  little 
season  at  Maysville,  Kentucky.  God  signally  blessed  his 
ministry,  and  many  were  converted.  The  two  following 
letters,  so  characteristic  of  his  warm  and  generous  heart, 
will,  no  doubt,  be  read  with  interest  by  his  admirers  : 

"  Maysville,  Kentucky,  Thursday. 
"  My  Beloved  Brother, — The  battle  goes  on  bravely; 
over  fifty  have  joined  since  my  arrival,  and  a  great  ex- 
citement prevails  in  the  city.  The  Mayor  and  many  of 
the  first  citizens  have  come  out  on  the  Lord's  side,  and 
joined  our  Church.  Halleluiah!  I  rejoice  that  you  are 
not  giving  one  inch  of  ground  to  the  enemy;  I  hope  you 
never  will.  Every  thing  depends  upon  the  steady  and 
onward  movement  of  Immanuel's  army.  I  think  of  you 
frequently,  and  I  hope  you  will  be  greatly  successful  in 
pushing  the  battle  to  the  gate  and  beyond  it.  We 
know  not  what  we  can  do  till  we  attempt  it;  we  lose 
much  by  fearing  to  attempt.  Set  your  mark  high;  no 
matter  if  men  laugh  at  your  daring,  you  will  not  fall 
far  short  of  it.  Much  land  lies  beyond,  and  it  should  be 
all  taken  for  the  Lord.  I  owe  much  to  you  and  brother 
Sehon.  I  have  not  much  in  like  to  pay  the  debt,  but 
what  I  have  I  give  you  with  a  willing  heart  and  open 
hand.  I  wish  you  to  write  to  me  frequently  and  fully; 
it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  from  you.  Give 
my  love  to  all  my  dear  friends,  especially  brother  Sharp 
and  the  Hoppers.     Tell  father  Walls  there  is  a  letter  in 


MAFFITT'S    LETTERS  —  A    VISIT.  263 

the  post-office  for  hiin.     Father  Collins  is  in  a  blaze  of 
glory  !     Pray  for  us.     Drive  the  battle  !     Halleluiah ! 
"Your  own,  dearly  in  Jesus, 

"J.    N.    MaFFITT." 

"  Matsvtlle,  Feb.  17, . 

"My  Beloved  G-., — Your  kind,  affectionate,  and  inter- 
esting epistle,  just  received,  is  before  me.  I  thank  you 
for  the  expressions  of  your  deep  regard,  and  duly  recip- 
rocate them,  with  any  addition  you  may  please  to  make. 
I  feel,  as  you  know  we  Irishmen  always  do,  when  love  is 
the  subject,  half  crazy.  Now,  I  love  brother  Gaddis 
just  as  much  as  I  ought  to  love  any  man,  perhaps  a  little 
'bit'  more.  Your  last  I  answered  instanter,  and  won- 
dered at  receiving  no  reply. 

"  Now,  as  it  regards  my  return,  it  will  be  but  for  a 
day  or  two.  I  believe  my  work  to  be  done  in  Cincinnati; 
and  as  you  have  got  along  so  triumphantly,  so  well 
without  me — for  which  I  am  more  than  glad — you  will, 
of  course,  need  me  no  more  in  the  battle.  There  are 
other  portions  of  the  vineyard  barren  and  need  tilling, 
and  to  those  the  old  laborer  must  go.  I  am  very  sad- 
hearted,  though  I  have  been  sustained  here  and  blest 
beyond  all  precedent.  Nearly  three  hundred  have  joined, 
among  them  the  first  as  well  as  the  hardest  cases  in  the 
city.  At  present  I  can  not  leave.  It  would  be  a  dan- 
gerous expedient,  as  the  '  camels '  are  not  coming,  but 
have  come,  and  there  is  trouble  in  the  camp.  Water  ! 
water!  is  their  cry,  and  there  is  danger  that  they  will 
put  out  the  fire. 

"I  think  I  will  be  in  Cincinnati  next  week,  but  not  to 
stay.  I  wrote  to  brother  Sehon  last  week,  and  before ; 
but  I  do  not  blame  him  now  for  not  answering  my  let- 
ters. I  know  he  is  worn  out  in  the  battle.  God  bless 
and  prosper  you  both  !  is  my  constant  prayer.     Write  me 


264         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT- 

again.  You  must  not  expect  me  to  remain  in  Cincin- 
nati ;  it  will  not  do,  much  as  I  love  my  friends.  I  must 
take  my  staff  and  travel  on. 

"  Your  own  brother  in  Jesus, 

"Jno.  N.  Maffitt." 

With  the  opening  of  spring  my  health  was  very  poor. 
After  advising  with  my  friends,  I  resolved  to  go  east, 
and  visit  an  uncle  at  Frankford,  Pennsylvania,  and  my 
eldest  brother,  who  resided  in  the  state  of  Delaware.  1 
find  the  following  brief  record  in  my  journal  when  under 
way: 

Steam-boa.t  William  Pexx,  April  7,  1840. 

This  day  five  years  ago  I  buried  my  dear  father, 
and,  on  the  tenth  day  of  last  October,  my  affectionate 
mother.  Surely,  "  I  am  the  man  that  hath  seen  affliction 
by  the  rod  of  his  wrath."  But,  0,  how  sweet  the  thought 
that  these  light  afflictions,  which  are  but  for  a  moment, 
worketh  out  for  me  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory !  Farewell,  for  a  season,  to  the  Queen 
of  the  West!" 

Nothing  worthy  of  note  occurred  till  after  we  passed 
Hollidaysburg.  While  moving  slowly  along  the  canal, 
on  Saturday,  the  Rev.  L.  L.  H.,  with  whom  I  was  trav- 
eling, inquired  of  the  captain  if  we  would  be  able  to 
reach  Harrisburg  before  the  Sabbath.  He  answered, 
"No."  "Well,  then,"  said  brother  H,  "you  may  put 
me,  and  my  wife,  and  brother  Gaddis  out  at  some  little 
town  on  Saturday  evening;  for  we  have  all  made  up  our 
minds  not  to  travel  on  the  Sabbath  day."  The  captain 
replied  he  was  sorry  that  we  had  concluded  to  leave  him. 
"I  will  give  you  the  privilege,"  said  he,  "of  prajing  and 
preaching  as  often  as  you  please,  if  you  will  not  leave  my 
boat."  Brother  H.  replied,  "I  will  gladly  comply,  pro- 
vided you  will  tie  up  your  packet,  and  let  your  work- 


maffitt's   LETTERS  —  A    VISIT.  265 

hands  and  horses  rest  on  God's  holy  day."  ""Weil,  sir," 
continued  our  gentlemanly  captain,  "  my  employers  will 
not  allow  me  to  do  so,  or  I  would  gladly  comply  with  your 
conditions,  in  order  to  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  you 
preach."  Here  the  conversation  ended.  Late  on  Sat- 
urday evening  a  heavy  rain-storm  passed  over  us,  and  we 
could  not  go  ashore;  but,  early  on  Sabbath  morning, 
we  came  in  sight  of  a  lovely  village  on  the  waters  jf  the 
Juniata.  Here  we  landed,  and  took  up  lodgings  at  a 
hotel  near  the  bridge.  Immediately  after  breakfast  I 
went  out  to  hunt  for  a  Methodist  church,  or  some  place 
of  preaching.  It  was  not  long  till  I  found  a  Methodist 
brother,  who  cheerfully  invited  us  to  occupy  their  pulpit 
as  often  as  we  wished,  and  he  would  invite  the  citizens 
to  attend.  The  news  soon  spread  rapidly  that  brother 
H.,  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  General  conference,  at 
Baltimore,  and  editor  of  the  Ladies'  Repository,  would 
preach  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  11  o'clock, 
A.  M.  The  house  was  crowded  in  the  morning,  and  also 
at  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  at  night.  Brother  H.  preached 
twice,  and  also  attended  the  funeral  of  a  child.  I  tried 
to  preach  once  during  the  day.  I  have  no  doubt  we 
sowed  some  "good  seed"  on  that  day,  that  may  be  "'gath- 
ered many  days  hence."  It  was  a  happy  and  peaceful 
day  to  my  soul. 

I  will  here  state,  for  the  encouragement  of  all  who 
desire  to  "sanctify  the  Sabbath  day,  and  keep  it  holy," 
that,  about  daylight  the  next  morning,  we  got  on  board 
another  swift  passenger-packet,  and  reached  Harrisburg 
in  time  to  take  the  same  train  of  cars  in  company  with 
our  fellow-passengers  who  had  traveled  on  the  Sabhath 
day.  I  spent  the  next  Sabbath  in  Frankford,  Pennsyl- 
vania, with  my  uncle,  David  Frazier.  I  preached  for 
brother  T.,  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  at  11 
o'clock,  A.  M.  I  had  a  good  time.  I  reached  the  house 
23 


r-FRINTS     OP    AX     ITINERANT. 


of  my  brother  Robert,  in  Delaware,  April  26,   1840.     I 

had  not  seen  him  for  more  than  twenty-iiv::  I 

was  qnite  a  small  child  when  he  left  home.     My  feelings 
on  meeting  him  were  indescribable  :  I  ~a=  - 
that  I  was  compelled  to  leave  the  room.     As 
returned,  and  my  brother  acquired  his  self-possession,  he 
remarked,  "Our  father  and  mother  are  both  dead;"'  and 
then  lifted  np  his  voice  and  wept  aloud,  saying,  u  Would 
to  God  I  could  have  been  permitted  to  see  them  a 
especially  my  dear  mother,  who  suffered  so  much  in  mind 
during  my  term  of  service  in  the  war 


.;.  ;:  tie  L:ri 


»ne  ;  I  will  trv  and  meet  them 


in  heaven  V  I  was  deeply  affected  by  the  recital  of  his 
sufferings  and  privations  during  his  five  years'  term  of 
bottom  in  An  army  of  tie  United!  9  tatee 

Ice  following  brief  extract,  from  my  journal,  will  show 
the  state  of  my  mind  at  this  period: 


I  am  i:-  at  the  residence  of  my  eldest  brother, 
Rloert.  vrlo  ; :::::- :;  tie  army  ::  tie  111:-:  ".  —  :.:->-  : ..  the 
1  o  1 1   ::   August.  If  1_.  a:. :;  serve  .".:-:.  t: :i"  ::t;.:n 

|l    3      . t  =  : •:_ lfAAy  ::  the  United   States  corps  of  artil- 
lery for  two  years,  and  three  years  in  a  company  of  Uni- 
:es  l_lt-l:.._-; ;:.,.      When  he  left  home,  twenty- 
eight    years   ago,  he  was   young  and   sprightly,    now  a 
venerable  and   gray-headed  man.     He  is   a  member   of 
Presbyterian  Church. 
m  now,  as  oftentimes  before,  a  wonder  to  myself; 
my  past  history  a  strange  and  checkered  one;  but  God 
has  led  me  again  in  >/.  '    I  thrive 

best  under  ami  I :: :  n  :   I   fed  that  I  am  now  growing  in 
grace.     I  do  not  regret  that,   on  the  fifth   day   of  last 
I  made  a   solemn   dedication,   a  record  with 
my  own  hand,  of  soul  and  body  to  His  service,  which,  to 


maffitt's    LETTERS  —  A    VISIT.  267 

me,  has  ever  since  been  perfect  freedom.  This  day  I 
feel  that  God  is  love.  I  live  by  faith.  Every  moment, 
Lord,  I  need  the  merit  of  thy  death.  0,  may  I  always 
walk  in  "newness  of  life  \"  Then  to  "die  will  be  gain." 
Health  continues  poor,  but  hope  my  journey  will  prove 
beneficial. 

I  arrived  in  Baltimore  on  the  eighth  day  of  May,  and 
was  kindly  entertained,  during  my  sojourn  of  more  than 
three  weeks,  in  the  family  of  W.  James  Dallam,  Esq.,  a 
brother-in-law  of  the  late  Bishop  Henshaw,  and  a  son  of 
Dr.  Dallam,  of  Harford.  I  preached  once  in  Light-Street 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  My  last  Sabbath  I  spent 
in  old  Harford,  with  the  relatives  of  my  good  host. 
While  there  I  attended  meeting  at  what  is  called  the 
" old  log  meeting-house ,"  venerable  alike  for  its  antiquity 
and  early  association  with  the  fathers  of  Methodism  in 
Maryland.  Rev.  Prettyman  preached  for  us.  I  preached 
in  the  woods  to  a  large  concourse  of  people,  near  what  is 
called  Garrettson's  meeting-house,  and  in  sight  of  the 
place  where  the  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson  was  born.  I 
shall  never  forget  that  occasion.  I  felt  strong  in  the 
Lord,  and  the  "power  of  his  might."  Mr.  Dallam,  in 
writing  to  me,  some  time  afterward,  remarked,  "  I  have 
paid  frequent  visits  to  Harford  since  I  saw  you.  On  one 
occasion  I  attended  a  meeting  at  ' Garrettson' s  meeting- 
house.' We  assembled  in  the  '  grand  old  woods.'  Bev. 
Mr.  Prettyman  was  the  preacher  on  that  occasion.  I 
took  my  seat  on  the  same  bench,  and  kneeled  on  the  same 
spot  that  I  did  on  that  memorable  occasion  when  you 
preached.  You  may  imagine  how  forcibly  yourself  and 
the  occurrences  of  that  day  were  brought  to  my  mind. 
While  the  preacher  addressed  us  on  the  subject  of  c  faith 
and  holiness/  I  felt  peculiarly  solemn,  and  a  love  for 
all  mankind.  The  sermon  was  plain  and  evangelical. 
The  minister  was  zealous,  and  I  have  no  doubt  deeply 


268  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

felt  the  importance  of  his  subject,  and  desirous  to  im- 
press  it  upon  the  hearts  of  his  hearers.  I  was  at  Dr. 
Dallam's  a  few  days  ago;  himself  and  family  enjoy  good 
health,  and  desirous  to  be  remembered  to  you.  I  am 
glad  to  learn  that  you  are  in  better  health  and  spirits 
than  when  you  left  us.  I  am  also  pleased  to  find  that 
your  visit  to  our  city  was  gratifying,  and  hope  you  will 
be  induced  to  repeat  it  ere  long.  I  can  assure  you  that 
your  friends  here  will  give  you  a  hearty  welcome,  and 
none  more  sincere  and  cordial  than  your  humble  servant 
"With  my  best  wishes  for  your  health  and  happiness, 

I  remain,  your  friend, 

"W.  James  Dallam. 

"Baltimore,  August  20,  1840." 

I  was  present  at  the  great  Whig  convention  that  nomi- 
nated General  William  Henry  Harrison  for  President 
It  was  the  largest  concourse  of  people  that  I  have  ever 
seen.  The  procession  was  the  most  grand  and  imposing 
of  any  thing  ever  known  in  America.  The  next  Sab- 
bath after  the  convention,  I  heard  the  Rev.  Dr.  Newton 
preach,  in  Monument  Square,  to  more  than  ten  thousand 
persons.     It  was  a  powerful  sermon. 

On  my  return  I  visited  Philadelphia,  and  preached 
once  at  Fourth-street  for  Dr.  Kenneday,  and  the  next 
Sabbath  night  at  Saint  Paul's.  I  also  spent  a  Sabbath 
at  Pittsburg,  and  preached  once.  These  efforts,  together 
with  the  fatigue  of  traveling,  robbed  me  of  all  my 
little  stock  of  strength.  While  at  Baltimore  I  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  Rev.  W.  M.  D.,  of  the  Indi- 
ana conference.  Like  myself,  he  was  traveling  for  the 
purpose  of  recruiting  his  health.  He  seemed  to  enter 
into  my  feelings,  and  we  spent  many  happy  hours  to- 
gether. He  suffered  long  before  he  was  able  to  enter 
the  effective  ranks  again.  The  following  extract  from 
one  of  his  letters  reveals  how  graciously  God  sustained 


maffitt's    LETTERS — A    VISIT.  269 

him  in  the  time  of  need.  He  now  occupies  a  com- 
manding position  in  the  "Hoosier"  state,  as  President 
of  the  Indiana  State  University,  and  is  highly  esteemed 
for  his  indefatigable  labors. 

"  Cottager's  Glen,  July  \0,  1840. 

"  My  Dear  Brother  Gaddis, — I  know  yon  will  think, 
by  this  time,  that  I  have  forgotten  you,  because  I  have  so 
long  delayed  writing  you  according  to  promise  j  but  you 
will  excuse  me  when  I  tell  you  that  I  have  been  con- 
fined to  my  bed  almost  ever  since  I  arrived  in  the  west. 
This,  together  with  the  affliction  of  my  mother  and 
father,  has  prevented  me  from  writing  till  now.  My 
mother  is  much  better,  but  my  father  much  worse;  he 
is  evidently  near  his  grave  with  a  decay,  or  consump- 
tion. My  health  is  some  better;  I  am  not  now  spitting 
blood,  but  I  am  spitting  a  dark-colored  clotted  matter 
that  I  can  not  well  describe.  I  think  the  result  of  my 
present  affliction  very  far  from  being  decided.  I  have 
determined  to  spend  the  remaining  part  of  the  summer 
here,  with  my  afflicted  parents,  in  the  country,  and  do 
what  I  can  for  the  improvement  of  my  health. 

"I  am  now  well  prepared  to  enjoy  solitude — two  miles 
and  a  half  from  town,  in  a  pleasant  dale.  Here  we 
have  few  visitors,  save  the  butterfly,  the  humming-bird, 
and  the  honey-bee.  To  be  sure,  the  summer  zephyr,  a  fa- 
miliar friend  in  every  part  of  the  land,  is  hourly  passing 
by,  and  I  am  often  ready  to  listen,  to  hear  him  whisper 
some  kind  message  in  my  ear  from  some  one  of  my 
many  kind  friends,  scattered  abroad  through  the  land; 
but  he  tarries  not — passes  swiftly  by,  gently  kissing  the 
flowers  in  the  vale,  and  then  saluting  the  rustling  corn 
on  the  plain.  But  stop;  this  is  too  romantic  for  me 
while  suffering  so  much  of  that  which  is  real. 

"This,  to  me,  is  a  time  for  serious  reflection,  as  I  con- 


270         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

sider  myself  far  from  being  out  of  danger.  I  feel  re- 
signed to  live  or  die. 

*  0,  what  is  death  ?    Tis  life's  last  shore, 
Where  vanities  are  vain  no  more ; 
Where  all  pursuits  their  goal  obtain, 
And  life  is  all  retouched  again.' 

I  am  glad  that  my  life  has  been  spent  in  the  toils,  la- 
hors7  and  pleasures  of  a  Methodist  preacher's  work.  I  ask 
no  happier  portion  than  a  lot  with  Methodist  preachers 
in  this  life,  and  an  inheritance  on  the  fields  of  bright 
glory.  With  them  I  have  been  identified  from  my  six- 
teenth year,  and  feel  that  I  love  them  better  than  any 
other  set  of  men  on  earth.  I  know  I  am  unworthy,  but 
trust,  through  grace,  I  have  done  some  good  in  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Church.  I  have  only  to  regret  that  I  have 
not  been  more  careful  of  my  health,  and  that  I  have  not 
lived  more  holy;  but 

'Jesus'  blood  avails  for  me.' 

My  brother,  pray  for  me ;  prayer  is  my  medicine.  1 
expect  to  remain  here  till  the  first  of  September,  then 
leave  for  conference  if  I  am  able  to  travel.  Should  my 
health  improve  sufficiently,  I  may  visit  Cincinnati  before 
my  return.  Remember  me  affectionately  to  all  the 
preachers  of  my  acquaintance  in  your  city.  Greet  them 
all  by  name. 

"In  deep  affliction,  I  am  your  most  affectionate  and 
truly-devoted  brother  in  Christ." 


CHAPTER    XL. 

WESLEY    CHAPEL  —  CLOSE    OF    MY    FIRST    YEAR 

Cincinnati,   Wesley  Chapel,  September  17,  1840. — Dur- 
ing the   past  summer  my  health   has   been   very  poor; 


WESLEY    CHAPEL.  271 

I  can  not  conceal  it  that  my  constitution  is  shattered 
by  the  tormenting  disease  which  has  followed  me  for 
years — "dyspepsia,"  with  all  its  horrors.  At  the  close 
of  our  late  camp  meeting  at  Duck  creek  I  was  vio- 
lently attacked  with  intermittent  fever.  I  was  soon 
brought  to  the  verge  of  the  grave.  But  it  hath  pleased 
almighty  God  in  infinite  goodness  to  restore  me  so  far 
that  I  am  now  able  to  ride  out  and  visit  my  friends. 
I  am  not  well  enough  to  resume  my  duties  in  the  pulpit, 
but,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  I  hope  I  will  soon  be  able 
to  preach  the  "Lamb  for  sinners  slain."  I  hope  in 
God  I  shall  be  more  successful  than  ever  in  spreading 
the  news  of  a  full  and  free  salvation  wherever  God  in  his 
providence  may  appoint  my  field  of  labor.  During  my 
late  tour  I  have  enjoyed  almost  uninterrupted  peace  and 
strong  confidence  in  God,  my  heavenly  Father,  whose 
chastisements  I  have  so  richly  deserved.  I  know  that,  in 
faithfulness  to  my  soul,  he  has  often  used  the  "rod;" 
by  this  means  I  have  been  driven  nearer  to  my  Savior's 
bleeding  side.  0,  how  sweet  the  thought,  "these  light 
afflictions,  which  are  but  for  a  moment,  worketh  out  for 
us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory !" 
The  past  conference  year  has  been  fraught  with  bless- 
ings and  ladened  down  with  goodness,  yet  to  me  it  has 
been  a  year  of  deep  afflictions,  trials,  bereavements,  and 
sore  temptations.  How  true  it  is  that  severe  temptations 
oftentimes  follow  great  blessings!  It  was  immediately 
after  "supper"  that  the  disciples  were  called  to  a  great 
u  trial  of  faith."  During  this  past  year  I  have  also  wit- 
nessed the  greatest  revival  of  religion  that  I  have  ever 
seen  since  I  entered  the  ministry.  In  the  midst  of  it  I 
have  often  felt  like  exclaiming,  "Now,  Lord,  lettest  thou 
thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation." 

At  one  of  our  quarterly  meetings  brother  Sehon  and 


272  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

myself  "read  into  full  connection"  over  five  hundred, 
a  larger  number,  perhaps,  than  was  ever  received  into 
full  membership  at  any  one  time  in  America.  To  Goa 
be  all  the  glory !  Amen.  May  they  all  prove  faithful, 
and  may  I  meet  them  in  heaven ! 

S ptemher  23,  1840.— My  colleague,  Rev.  E.  W.  Sehon, 
preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  yesterday,  from  these 
appropriate  words,  "'And  yet  there  is  room/'  It  was  an 
eloquent  and  powerful  discourse.  Many  hearts  were 
deeply  affected  under  the  word.  We  are  to  start  for 
conference  at  Zanesville  in  a  few  days.  In  the  after- 
noon I  attended  communion  at  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  Eev.  Thornton  ~SV.  Mills  is  pastor.  I 
enjoyed  myself  very  well.  Three  young  converts  were 
admitted,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  not  more  than  twelve 
years  of  age.  They  were  the  fruits  of  the  well-directed 
efforts  of  the  pastor  in  the  Sabbath  school.  This  is  a 
prosperous,  growing  society — they  have  much  of  the 
spirit  of  "brotherly  love." 

I  feel,  within  the  last  few  days,  that  God  is  reviving 
his  work  in  my  soul.  aThe  gift  loithin  me  is  stirred 
up."  I  feel  a  burning  desire  to  be  once  more  able  to 
lift  up  the  standard  of  the  cross.  "Praise  the  Lord,  0 
my  soul !"  I  think  I  will  soon  be  restored  so  as  to  ena- 
ble me  to  speak  in  his  name  to  poor  sinners,  who  are 
wandering  upon  the  dark  mountains  and  stumbling  into 
the  gulf  of  perdition. 

"  0,  for  a  trumpet's  voice 
On  all  the  world  to  call, 
To  bid  their  hearts  rejoice 
In  Him  who  died  for  all 1" 

Zanesville,  Ohio,  Sabbath  night,  October  4,  1840. — I 
have  just  returned  from  Church,  and  before  I  retire  to 
rest  I  wish  to  record  the  goodness  of  God  to  my  soul 
this  day.     At  eleven  o'clock  I  had  the  privilege  of  hear- 


WESLEY    CHAPEL.  273 

ing  Bishop  Soule  preach  an  able  discourse,  from,  "Come 
unto  me  all  je  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest."  At  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  our  presiding 
Bishop,  Bev.  Elijah  Hedding,  addressed  us,  from  Acts 
xx,  28,  "Take  heed,  then,  unto  yourselves  and  to  all 
the  flock,  over  the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made 
you  overseers,  to  feed  the  Church  of  God,  which  he  hath 
purchased  with  his  own  blood."  The  following  is  the 
plan  of  his  sermon  : 

I.  The  Church  of  God,  "  styled  the  flock." 

II.  The  duty  of  those  who  have  the  oversight — "  Take 
heed  to  yourselves,  and  'feed'  the  flock." 

III.  The  motive  by  which  this  duty  is  enforced — "  Pur- 
chased with  his  own  blood." 

This,  the  Bishop  said,  was 

1.  An  unexpected  purchase. 

2.  An  undeserved  purchase. 

3.  Universal — "The  whole  world." 

4.  Timely. 

5.  Costly — "Purchased  with  his  own  blood." 

The  sermon  was  the  most  plain,  appropriate,  and  ef- 
fective discourse  that  I  ever  heard  on  such  an  occasion. 
At  the  close  of  the  service  I  was,  with  a  number  of 
others,  ordained  to  elders'  orders  by  Bishop  Hedding. 
0,  may  I  never  forget  the  solemn  promise  which  I  made 
this  day,  "To  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist!"  God  grant 
that  I  may  make  full  proof  of  my  ministry,  and  finish  my 
course  with  joy!     Amen. 

I  was  returned  to  Wesley  Chapel  with  Bev.  E.  W. 
Sehon  and  Bev.  Isaac  Ebbert,  D.  D.  Brother  Sehon 
was  a  very  popular  and  successful  minister  of  Jesus 
Cnnst.  and  treated  me  with  great  kindness.  Brother 
Ebbert  was  a  "true  yoke-fellow,"  fresh  from  the  academic 
groves  of  Augusta.  It  was  his  first  year  in  the  Ohio 
conference.     He  was  well  received   by  the   people   gen- 


274  FOOT -PRINTS     OF    AX     ITINERANT. 

erally,  and  we  had  another  year  of  peace  and  prosperity 
Wesley  Chapel,  or  the  Eastern  charge,  as  it  was  then 
called,  was  at  this  period  the  mammoth  depot  of  Meth- 
odism for  the  Queen  City.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
summer  of  1841  the  membership,  including  probation- 
ers, was  over  one  thousand.  At  the  close  of  that  year, 
after  deducting  all  the  removals  and  deaths,  we  reported 
to  conference  nine  hundred  and  twenty  members. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

WESLEY    CHAPEL,     SECOND     TEAR. 

My  second  year  at  Wesley  Chapel  was  a  happy  and 
prosperous  one.  The  following  extracts  from  my  jour- 
nal will  give  the  reader  a  history  of  my  religious  experi- 
ence and  labors.  That  I  might  grow  in  grace  and  use- 
fulness I  drew  up  the  following  resolutions: 

January  1,  1841. — 1.  Resolved,  By  the  grace  of  G-od 
assisting  me,  to  be  more  holy  during  this  year  should  my 
life  be  spared ;  more  serious  in  my  conversation,  so  that 
I  may  be  an  example  to  the  flock  "  in  word  and  doctrine." 

2.  Retohedj  To  use  prayer  and  fasting,  or  abstinence, 
more  frequently;  to  read  the  Bible  through  in  regular 
order  as  soon  as  possible;  to  preach  more  frequently,  and 
"not  so  Jong  or  loud.''1 — holding  up  the  Lord  Jesus  as  a 

ni  Savior  from  all  sin;  to  have  prayers  in  every 
family  that  I  am  permitted  to  visit  wherever  it  is  prac- 
ticable. 

3.  Resolved,  To  read  every  day,  or,  at  least,  once  each 
week,  the  following  dedication  made  of  myself  to  God, 
December  5,  1839 : 

Half-past  ten  o'clock  on  this,  the  evening  of  the  fifth 
day  of  December,  year  of  our  Lord   one  thousand   eight 


WESLEY     CHAPEL,     SECOND    YEAR.  275 

hundred  and  thirty-nine — I  dedicate  my  soul  and  body 
anew,  a  living  sacrifice  unto  God;  and  reckon  myself  in- 
deed dead  to  sin  and  alive  to  God,  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  from  this  time  henceforth  and  forever,  living 
or  dying,  to  be  the  Lord's. 

"My  life  and  blood  I  here  present, 
If  for  thy  truth  they  may  be  spent." 

Maxwell  P.  Gaddis. 

4.  Resolved,  To  read  the  rules  of  Discipline  as  often 
as  possible,  so  that  I  may  be  a  holy,  humble,  and  useful 
Methodist  preacher. 

January  2. — Since  the  commencement  of  the  new  year 
I  have  enjoyed  much  of  the  Divine  presence — health 
much  improved.  God  is  reviving  his  work  in  our  midst. 
Upward  of  sixty  souls  added  to  the  Church  and  many 
happily  converted.  The  Church  is  waking  up  and  put- 
ting on  "  her  beautiful  garments."  God  is  setting  the 
captive  free. 

"  Lo,  the  promise  of  a  shower 
Spreads  o'er  all  the  thirsty  land." 

We  are  looking  up  and  praying  that  God  would  "pour 
the  mighty  flood."  Yesterday  was  a  day  of  peace  to  my 
soul.  I  felt  joyful  in  the  house  of  God  and  the  class- 
room. 

"  0  for  a  heart  to  praise  my  God !" 

January  26. — Finished  reading  Doctor  Peck  on  Chris- 
tian Perfection.  I  found  it  a  blessing  to  my  soul.  He 
sets  forth  this  doctrine  in  a  clear  and  striking  manner 
in  extracts  from  the  writings  of  Clarke,  Fletcher,  "Wes- 
ley, and  others.  Lord  grant  that  this  doctrine  may  pre- 
vail in  all  the  Churches  of  the  saints ! 

January  28. — Last  night  I  listened  to  an  interesting 
sermon  in  our  Church  from  Professor  B.,  from  Job  xxxiii, 
27,  28. 


276  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

I.  The  true  character  of  sin — the  perversion  of  that 
which  is  right,  etc. 

II.  The  nature  of  true  repentance — "I  have  sinned.  ; 

III.  The  intimate  connection  between  them  and  eter- 
nal life — " he  will  deliver  his  soul  from  the  pit" — the 
pit  represents  sin  and  its  consequences.  "And  he  shall 
see  the  light." 

It  was  a  plain,  searching,  evangelical  sermon.  Several 
were  converted  before  the  meeting  closed.  Yesterday 
was  a  day  of  peace  and  holy  joy  to  my  soul,  especially  in 
the  class-room. 

Friday  morning. — This  being  the  day  set  apart  for 
"fasting  and  prayer"  previous  to  our  second  quarterly 
meeting,  I  wish  to  get  near  the  mercy-seat  and  hold  com- 
munion with  God.  Blessed  be  his  holy  name,  my  peace 
flows  like  the  beautiful,  placid  river.  I  feel  that  Christ 
Jesus  is  all  and  in  all.  Yesterday  I  had  a  sore  trial — a 
severe  conflict  with  the  devil,  who  sometimes  comes  like 
a  "  roaring  lion,"  but  more  frequently  clothed  as  beauti- 
fully as  "an  angel  of  light."  God  was  my  "refuge  and 
strong  tower." 

Wednesday,  February  3. — Last  Sabbath  I  preached  at 
Asbury  on  "presumptuous  sins  and  secret  faults."  God 
was  in  our  midst.  On  Sunday  night  Kev.  Isaac  Ebbert 
preached  at  "Wesley  from,  "  Sing  unto  the  Lord."  Several 
were  converted  and  fourteen  joined  the  Church.  Our 
love-feast  on  Monday  night  was  one  of  unusual  interest. 
The  speaking  was  very  good  and  the  power  of  God  at 
times  signally  manifested.  God  is  carrying  on  his  work 
in  our  city  and  many  are  turning  to  the  Lord.  The 
work,  as  yet,  is  confined  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Churches.  0  that  it  might  soon  spread  into  every  Church 
throughout  the  entire  city!  This  morning  I  arose  at  5 
o'clock,  and  found  my  mind  calm  and  peaceful.  Glory  to 
God  for  the  Christian  religion ! 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     SECOND    YEAR.        277 

March  2. — Spent  last  week  in  the  country  at  Goshen. 
Preached  once  and  exhorted  several  times  during  their 
quarterly  meeting,  and  delivered  a  lecture  in  the  public 
school  to  the  teachers  and  children.  Enjoyed  myself 
pretty  well.  Since  my  return  I  have  experienced  some 
very  sore  trials.  I  have  been  much  harassed  with  the 
temptations  of  the  devil.  Thank  God,  I  feel  some  better 
this  morning !  0  Lord,  bring  me  forth  to  the  light,  and 
cause  me  to  rejoice  all  the  day  long  with  " exceeding 
great  joy  I"  I  feel  the  necessity  of  "  a  closer  walk  with 
God."  My  fondness  for  "creature  good"  has  been  too 
great.  Lord,  wean  off  my  heart  from  the  perishing 
things  of  this  uncertain  and  fleeting  world !  This  after- 
noon the  female  class,  of  which  I  am  leader,  meets  at 
brother  William  NefPs.  Lord,  meet  with  us  and  fill  our 
hearts  with  the  spirit  of  rejoicing!  For  the  last  few 
days  the  weather  has  been  delightful.  The  singing  of 
birds  has  again  returned — God  is  about  to  renew  the 
face  of  nature.  0  that  the  buds  and  blossoms  of  grace 
may  fully  appear  in  my  poor  heart  as  the  sure  presage  of 
the  matured  fruit ! 

"  My  earth  thou  waterest  from  on  high, 
0  make  it  all  a  pool ! 
Spring  up,  0  well,  I  ever  cry; 
Spring  up  within  my  soul." 

March  5,  1841. — Weather  cold  and  cloudy.  During 
the  past  day  I  have  enjoyed  much  peace  and  strong  con- 
solation in  drawing  nigh  to  God.  The  power  of  the  ad- 
versary is  broken;  my  soul  is  escaped  as  the  bird  out  of 
the  snare  of  the  fowler.  Glory  be  to  God  for  his  un- 
bounded loving-kindness  manifested  to  his  poor  servant ! 
"What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  God  for  all  his  mer- 
cies!" "My  heart  is  fixed"  to  do  his  will.  Lord,  what 
wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?  "  Here  I  am,  send  me."  Only 
make  me  useful;  I  care  not  where  I  am  so  thou  art  glori- 


278  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

fied.  I  have  commenced  reading  the  travels  of  the  late 
lamented  Dr.  Fisk.  I  find  them  very  interesting.  The 
description  of  his  seasickness  is  very  amusing.  No 
wonder  he  desired  never  to  cross  the  ocean  but  once 
more,  to  return  to  the  bosom  of  his  friends  in  America 
God  permitted  him  to  return,  since  which  time  he  has 
performed  a  u pleasant  voyage"  to  the  regions  of  immor- 
tality, and  is  now  safely  moored  in  the  harbor  of  glory, 
no  more  to  be  "  tossed  on  life's  tempestuous  sea."  God 
grant  that,  like  him,  I  may  "win  the  well-fought  day," 
and  enter  that  haven  at  last, 

"  Where  all  the  ship's  company  meet, 
Who  have  sailed  with  the  Savior  below !" 

March  16,  1841. — Weather  continues  changeable,  cold, 
and  blustering.  I  have  experienced  much  of  the  good- 
ness of  the  Lord  within  the  last  ten  days.  God  is  the 
"refuge"  of  my  soul.  The  devil  roars  and  seeks  still 
to  devour  me,  but  it  is  all  in  vain.  Greater  is  he  that  is 
for  me  than  all  they  that  can  be  against  me. 

"  Sin,  earth,  and  hell  I  now  defy — 
I  lean  upon  my  Savior's  breast." 

In  regard  to  some  things  I  still  "walk  in  darkness  and 
have  no  light,"  and,  at  times,  I  feel  disquieted,  wonder- 
ing why  it  is  that  God  deals  thus  toward  me.  But  from 
a  review  of  all  the  past  I  feel  to  sink  down  into  all  his 
blessed  will,  and 

"  Give  to  the  winds  my  fears," 

believing  it  shall  all  work  together  for  my  good, 

"  When  fully  he  the  work  hath  wrought 
That  caused  my  needless  fear." 

On  last  Wednesday  night  I  had  a  good  time  at  Wesley 
Chapel  while  trying  to  enforce  the  exhortation  of  Christ 
to  his  disciples,  "  Watch  ye,  therefore,  and  pray  always, 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     SECOND    YEAR.  279 

that  ye  may  be  accounted  worthy  to  escape  all  these 
things,  and  to  stand  before  the  Son  of  man."  On  Sun- 
day evening  last  I  preached  from  Isaiah  xli,  21.  While 
charging  objectors  to  "bring  forth  their  strong  reasons," 
the  power  of  God  appeared  to  rest  upon  the  thousands 
present,  who  listened  with  profound  attention.  If  good 
was  done,  to  God  be  all  the  glory! 

"  For  this  let  men  revile  my  name, 
No  cross  I  shun,  I  fear  no  shame; 
All  hail,  reproach  !  and  welcome  pain, 
Only  thy  terrors,  Lord,  restrain." 

Urhana,  Champaign  county,  March  27,  1841. — Left 
Cincinnati  on  last  Thursday  morning  in  the  mail-coach, 
and  passed  through  Lebanon,  Dayton,  and  Springfield.  I 
am  now  comfortably  entertained  at  the  house  of  my  old 
and  well-tried  friend,  Rev.  William  B.  Christie,  who  is 
the  present  stationed  minister  in  this  place.  Brother 
Christie  is  in  very  poor  health — not  able  to  labor  much. 
I  came  here  to  assist  him  for  a  few  weeks.  I  feel  that  I 
am  under  great  obligations  to  him.  I  traveled  in  his 
district  for  four  years.  God  has  been  graciously  reviving 
his  work  among  the  people  of  his  charge.  Many  have 
been  converted  already  and  over  one  hundred  added  to 
the  Church,  and  I  hope  many  more  may  be  added  during 
my  stay.  I  feel  more  and  more  like  giving  myself  up 
wholly  to  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

March  30. — While  preaching  here,  on  last  Sabbath  at 
11,  A.  M.,  I  had  great  liberty  and  boldness  of  speech. 
It  was  a  time  of  general  weeping  and  rejoicing.  Up- 
ward of  thirty  were  baptized  at  the  close  of  service, 
mostly  young  men  and  women.  Up  to  the  present  time 
one  hundred  and  twenty-four  have  been  added  to  the 
Church,  many  of  whom  are  promising  young  men.  Ad- 
dressed the  Sunday  school  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  felt  so 
wearied  that  I  did  not  go  out  to  Church  in  the  evening 


280  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

April  10. — Revival  still  in  progress.  Brother  Christie 
not  able  to  be  with  us.  We  have  had  several  interesting 
meetings  of  late.  Fifteen  more  added  to  the  fold,  mak- 
ing thirty -eight  in  all  since  my  arrival.  On  yesterday  I 
addressed  a  large  congregation  for  more  than  one  hour. 
If  good  was  done,  to  God  be  all  the  glory !  The  weather 
changes  nearly  every  twenty-four  hours.  This  is  a  lovely 
town,  and  one  of  the  best  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches 
that  I  have  seen  since  I  left  Cincinnati.  I  am  much  in 
love  with  the  whole  community.  An  incident  occurred 
last  week  that  is  worthy  of  record.  A  young  gentleman, 
who  had  been  absent  from  home  on  a  visit  to  the  west, 
returned  recently.  On  meeting  with  some  of  his  young 
associates,  he  soon  found  out  that  they  had  united  with 
the  Church  and  professed  conversion.  He  then  left 
them  and  went  to  visit  another  family  of  his  acquaint- 
ance; but  what  was  his  surprise,  as  soon  as  he  was  seated 
and  the  usual  greetings  over,  the  young  ladies  intro- 
duced the  subject  of  religion  and  informed  him  that  they 
had  all  joined  the  Church!  He  was  struck  dumb  and 
felt  more  disappointed  than  ever.  In  a  short  time  he 
departed  and  started  up  into  town  to  see  an  old  comrade 
and  intimate  associate.  But  imagine  h'o  chagrin  on 
meeting  with  him!  Mr.  T.  remarked,  "Well,  W.  H..  we 
are  almost  broke  up;  we  called  over  the  roll  last  night 
and  there  were  but  seven  left,  but  now  that  you  have 
returned  I  suppose  we  will  still  number  eight."  They 
conversed  only  a  short  time  and  parted.  The  next  night 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  T.  and  his  friend  W.  H. 
both  at  the  altar  of  prayer.  They  were  converted  shortly 
afterward,  and  both  are  now  happy  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  enjoying  the  evidence  of  pardon. 

On  my  return  to  Cincinnati,  my  health  was  very  poor 
till  the  close  of  the  year. 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     SECOND    TEAR.         281 
AN   AFFECTING   SCENE. 

THE  LATE   GE3EBAL  HABEISON  A310XG   THE   MOUEXEES   AT  WESLEY  CHAPEL. 

In  the  midst  of  the  mourners  at  Wesley  Chapel  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  meeting,  every  night  for  more  than  one 
week,  the  lamented  President  of  the  United  States,  the 
late  Gen.  William  H.  Harrison.  I  was  struck  with  the 
deep  interest  he  manifested  in  our  altar  exercises.  He 
generally  staid  till  a  late  hour,  standing  up  during  the 
singing,  and  in  a  lowly,  kneeling  posture  in  time  of 
prayer  for  the  penitents.  On  one  occasion  he  spoke  to 
me  in  the  following  deeply-affecting  and  interesting  man- 
ner: "  Brother  Gaddis,  I  know  there  are  some  of  my 
political  opponents  that  will  be  ready  to  impugn  my  mo- 
tives in  attending  this  revival  meeting  at  this  peculiar 
time,  but  I  care  not  for  the  smiles  or  frowns  of  my  fellow- 
men.  God  knows  my  heart  and  understands  my  mo- 
tives;" and  then,  laying  his  hand  upon  his  breast,  he 
exclaimed  with  much  emotion  and  with  a  fervor  that  I 
shall  never  forget,  "A  deep  and  abiding  sense  of  my  in- 
ward spiritual  necessities  brings  me  to  this  hallowed  place 
night  after  night."  At  the  close  of  one  of  our  meetings, 
while  Kev.  J.  If.  Maffitt  was  singing  his  favorite  song, 
concluding  with  the  chorus — 

"  To  die  on  the  field  of  battle 
With,  glory  in  my  soul," 

Gen.  Harrison  walked  to  the  foot  of  the  pulpit  steps  and 
reached  out  his  hand,  which  was  immediately  grasped  by 
brother  M.,  while  he  continued  to  sing — 

"  Old  soldier,  travel  on ; 

I'll  meet  you  in  bright  glory. 

To  die  on  the  field  of  battle,"  etc. 

The  effect  was  electrical.  The  audience  simultane- 
ously rose  to  their  feet,  while  every  eye  was  moistened 
with  tears. 

24 


282         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

Another  little  incident,  illustrative  of  the  character  of 
this  great  patriot  and  invincible  warrior,  occurred  near 
the  close  of  this  same  meeting.  After  the  benediction 
had  been  pronounced,  and  we  were  all  retiring  from  the 
house,  while  the  lights  were  still  burning  dimly,  the 
General  accosted  me  as  follows:  "My  dear  sir,  I  have 
aught  against  you.  You  are  not  as  friendly  as  the 
preachers  generally  have  been,  who  have  preceded  you  on 
North  Bend  circuit.  You  have  been  in  our  neighborhood 
two  or  three  times,  and  yet  you  have  never  called  to  see 
me.  Now,  you  know  that  when  men  get  old  they  do  not 
like  to  be  neglected.  I  have  always  kept  a  '  prophet's 
chamber  on  the  wall,'  especially  for  the  itinerants  on 
North  Bend  circuit,  and  I  often  wonder  why  you  do  not 
call  at  my  cabin."  I  replied,  "General,  you  are  mistaken 
in  the  person."     He   then   gave   me  a  second  look,  and 

said,   "0,  I  beg  pardon;  I  thought  it  was  Mr. ,  the 

junior  preacher  on  our  circuit.  Well,  I  hope  you  will 
give  him  my  kind  regards,  and  tell  him  I  shall  expect  a 
visit  from  him  soon." 

THE   FORCE   OF    TRUTH. 

Early  one  Monday  morning,  while  sitting  in  the  old 
"preachers'  office"  at  Wesley  Chapel,  I  noticed  a  well- 
dressed  woman  passing  very  hurriedly  through  the  outer 
gate.  She  instantly  entered  the  office  without  waiting  to 
knock  at  the  door.  My  colleague,  Rev.  E.  W.  Sehon,  D. 
D.,  was  writing  a  letter  in  the  "old  arm-chair,"  near  the 
book-case.  The  unceremonious  lady-visitor  went  up  be- 
fore him  and  addressed  him  as  follows:  "Sir,  why  did 
you  personate  me  in  your  sermon  on  yesterday  morning?" 
My  colleague  arose,  and  in  his  usual  happy  manner  re- 
quested her  to  be  seated.  Drawing  her  vail  more  closely 
over  her  face,  she  promptly  refused,  and  continued  to 
remark,    "  Sir,  who   informed   you  any  thing  concerning 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     SECOND    YEAR.  283 

me?  How  dare  you  address  me  personally,  and  expose 
my  conduct  in  the  public  congregation  ?"  "  Madam/' 
said  brother  S.,  "I  perceive  you  are  highly  excited;  do 
please  take  a  seat,  and  I  will  give  you  any  satisfaction  in 
my  power."  "I  am  much  obliged  to  you/'  was  the  reply. 
"I  am  not  ' excited'  any  more  than  yourself.  I  have 
come  here  to  demand  of  you  your  authority  for  making 
such  remarks  relative  to  my  character  and  conduct  as  you 
made  in  your  sermon  on  yesterday  morning.  I  again 
repeat  the  question,  Sir,  who  told  you  any  thing  about 
me,  and  how  dare  you  personate  me  in  your  discourse?" 
My  colleague  then  candidly  informed  her  that  he  did  not 
know  who  she  was,  and  that  he  had  no  recollection  of 
ever  having  seen  her  before.  "  Of  course,  madam,  I  was 
not  personating  you  in  my  remarks  on  yesterday,  as  I  did 
not  know  any  thing  about  you."  She  then  became  more 
calm  and  took  a  seat.  Brother  S.  then  inquired  if  his 
explanation  was  satisfactory.  She  nodded  assent,  and 
rising,  bowed  herself  very  politely  out  into  the  street  again. 
I  thought  of  the  woman  "  who  went  her  way  into  the  city, 
and  said  to  the  men,  Come  see  a  man  which  told  me  all 
things  that  I  ever  did;  is  not  this  the  Christ?"  My  col- 
league assured  me  that  he  had  preached  a  plain,  practical, 
Gospel  sermon  on  the  occasion  referred  to.  In  this  case 
we  have  a  striking  illustration  of  the  power  of  the  word  of 
God,  or  the  force  of  divine  truth.  St.  James  compares  it 
to  the  "  looking-glass,"  and  St.  Paul — in  his  address  to  the 
Hebrews,  4th  chapter,  12th  verse — declares  that  "the 
word  of  God  is  quick  and  powerful,  and  sharper  than  any 
two-edged  sword,  piercing  even  to  the  dividing  asunder 
of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints  and  marrow,  and  is 
a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the  heart." 

"  Thy  word,  Almighty  Lord, 
Where'er  it  enters  in, 
Is  sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword, 
To  slay  the  man  of  sin. 


2S4         FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

Thy  word  is  power  and  life; 

It  bids  confusion  cease, 
And  changes  envy,  hatred,  strife, 

To  love,  and  joy,  and  peace." 

AN    IMPOSTOR. 

Some  time  during  the  great  revival  at  "Wesley  Chapel 
I  noticed  a  good-looking  young  man  talking  to  the  mourn- 
ers in  the  altar.  I  went  to  him  and  inquired  if  he  was  a 
preacher.  He  replied  that  he  was  a  local  preacher,  and 
had  recently  arrived  in  the  city.  I  then  invited  him  to 
call  at  the  "  preachers'  office"  in  the  morning.  He  was 
there  at  the  time  named.  Brother  Sehon  requested  him 
to  produce  his  credentials.  He  then  informed  us  that  he 
had  entirely  forgotten  them,  they  were  in  his  saddle- 
bags at  the  City  Hotel,  and  that  he  would  bring  them  up 
the  next  morning.  This  was  satisfactory  to  all  present. 
That  night  he  prayed  acceptably,  and  labored  a  long  time 
at  the  altar.  The  next  morning  he  came  up  as  he  prom- 
ised, but  without  his  license.  It  was  Saturday,  and  the 
Rev.  A.  Carroll,  then  stationed  at  M'Kendree  Chapel  in 
Fulton,  invited  him  up  there  to  preach  the  next  Sabbath. 
He  very  cordially  complied,  but  I  understood  he  did  not 
succeed  well  at  sermonizing.  On  his  return  to  the  city 
he  promised  to  write  to  Virginia,  and  get  certificates  of 
his  Christian  character  and  standing  in  society  from  Rev. 
John  Early,  D.  D.,  now  Bishop  of  the  Church  South; 
but  this  promise  was  never  fulfilled.  He  brought  up  to 
our  office,  a  few  days  after  this,  an  old  "exhorting  license/' 
signed  by  Rev.  John  Early.  Brother  Sehon  told  him  to 
bring  up  his  "preaching  license"  also,  or  else  he  would 
not  allow  him  to  preach  again  in  any  part  of  the  city. 
The  next  Sabbath  and  the  following  week  our  young  an( 
gay  deceiver  spent  at  Fulton;  during  which  time  he  had 
paid  attention  to  rather  an  interesting  young  lady,  and 
made  proposals  of  marriage.     On  his  return  to  the  city 


WESLEY    CHAPEL,     SECOND    YEAR.  285 

he  often  visited  the  sick,  and  I  heard  hirn  pray  once  and 
weep  at  the  bedside  of  a  dying  sinner,  in  a  manner  that 
made  us  all  believe  he  was  sincere.     The  next  morning, 
on  going  to  the  preachers'  office,  I  found  a  letter  lying  on 
the  table,  addressed  to  the  pastors  of  Wesley  Chapel — 
Rev.  E.  W.  Sehon  and  Rev.  31.  P.  Gaddis.     The  writer 
said  he  was  an  "entire  stranger"  to  either  of  us,  but  foi 
a  week  or  more  he  had  been  attending  the  evening  meet- 
ings at  Wesley  Chapel.     He  was  pleased,  yea,  delighted 
with  my  colleague,   and  exceedingly  pleased  with   Rev. 
John  N,  Maffit,  and  no  less  attached  to  the  writer  of  this 
strange  history;  but  he  was  benefited  more  by  the   con- 
versation and  warm-hearted  exhortations  of  a  "stranger" 
that  occasionally  talked  to  the  mourners  at  the  altar,  than 
by  us  all.     This  led  him  to  seek  his  acquaintance  and  to 
inquire  where  he  was  staying;    and  to  his  surprise,  the 
Rev.  3Ir.  Hardy — for  that  was  the  name  of  the  impostor — 
cold  him  that  he  was  lodging  at  the  City  Hotel,  on  Main- 
Street.     The  writer  then  closed  by  saying  that  he  would 
think  more  highly  of  the  piety  of  professed  Christians  in 
Cincinnati  when  they  treated  strangers  more  kindly;  and 
also  urged  upon  brother  Sehon  and  myself  to  provide  a 
home  in  some  good  Methodist  family  for  the  young  min- 
ister now  stopping  at  the  hotel,  who  had  labored  in  the 
altar  so   faithfully  for  a  number  of  nights   past.     This 
was  the  substance  of  the  whole  letter.     It  looked  a  little 
suspicious.     We  said  nothing  to  anyone,  but  laid  it  care- 
fully away  in  the  drawer  for  future  reference.     When  Mr. 
Hardy  came  up  the  next  morning,  brother  S.   told  him 
that  he  should  wait  no  longer  for  his  credentials,  and  that 
he  must  go  back  and  hunt  for  them  and  bring  them  im- 
mediately to  the  preachers'  office.     Mr.  H.  said  he  would 
do  so,  and  took  his  departure.     About  eleven  o'clock  he 
returned  with  his  "  lost  certificate,"  and  handed  it  over 
to  my  colleague,  and  soon  left  us  to  visit  a  sick  woman 


286  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

near  the  head  of  Broadway.  The  reader  will  be  aston^ 
ished  to  learn  that  the  ink  was  hardly  dry  in  some  places, 
and  that  it  was  written  on  the  same  kind  of  paper  and 
with  the  same  ink  as  the  curious  letter  referred  to  above, 
which  had  been  carefully  preserved  by  us.  We  could  no 
longer  doubt  his  true  character,  and  began  to  watch  his 
movements  carefully.  We  instructed  a  gentleman  who 
lodged  with  him  in  the  same  room,  to  examine  his  papers 
the  first  opportunity.  He  did  so,  and  found  a  number  of 
forged  letters  and  certificates.  From  this  examination  we 
learned  that  he  most  generally  passed  himself  off  for  a 
Campbellite  Baptist;  but  on  coming  to  Cincinnati,  he 
found  that  he  might  succeed  better  by  passing  for  a 
Methodist  preacher;  hence  the  necessity  of  writing  a 
new  license  to  meet  the  emergency.  The  next  day,  on 
coming  into  the  ofiice,  he  told  brother  Sehon  that  he 
found  a  poor  woman  of  our  Church  in  need  of  some 
money,  and  that  he  had  paid  her  five  dollars.  My  col- 
league replied  that  the  Female  Benevolent  Society  should 
refund  it  to  him  immediately;  but  he  objected,  and  pro- 
fessed to  be  much  hurt  by  such  a  suggestion.  He  left 
our  office  soon  afterward  and  went  up  to  brother  John 
Souders,  on  Fifth-street,  and  borrowed  the  sum  of  ten 
dollars ;  five  of  which  he  kept  for  himself,  and  the  other 
five  he  paid  over  to  the  poor  woman,  of  which  he  had 
spoken,  and  that  night  left  for  "  parts  unknown."  I  have 
not  heard  a  word  from  him  since  the  hour  of  his  final 
leave-taking  in  so  unceremonious  a  manner.  A  steam- 
boat captain  told  me,  a  few  months  after  he  left,  that  this 
same  young  man  came  on  board  his  boat  at  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  with  his  saddle-bags  on  his  arm,  and  told  the 
captain  that  he  was  a  Methodist  traveling  preacher  in 
the  interior  of  that  state,  and  on  his  way  to  the  river  his 
norse  had  died,  and  that  he  was  compelled  to  travel  od 
foot  and  by  stage  a  long  distance.     His  money  was  nearly 


51 Y    AGENCY.  287 

all  gone,  and  he  desired  to  go  to  the  city  of  Louisville  to 
visit  his  friends.  The  sympathies  of  the  noble-hearted 
officer  of  the  boat  were  immediately  aroused,  and  he  pro- 
posed to  give  the  unfortunate  minister  (?)  a  free  passage 
as  far  as  he  desired  to  go.  The  boat,  on  her  upward  trip, 
was  detained  a  long  time  by  the  ice  in  the  river,  and  the 
captain  lost  a  large  amount  in  having  to  board  the  pas- 
sengers longer  than  was  anticipated.  The  passengers 
were  a  liberal  and  noble-hearted  set  of  men,  and  resolved 
to  raise  a  purse  to  indemnify  the  captain.  All  contributed 
something  but  Mr.  Hardy.  This  led  to  an  inquiry  among 
his  fellow-passengers  as  to  the  cause.  On  learning  his 
destitute  situation,  another  collection  was  taken  up, 
amounting  to  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  for 
the  young  minister.     All  this  was  clear  gain  to  him. 


CHAPTER   XLII. 

WORTHINGTON     FEMALE     SEMINARY     AND 
ASBURY     ACADEMY. 

In  the  fall  of  1841  I  was  appointed  Agent  for  the 
Worthington  Female  Seminary  and  Asbury  Academy,  at 
Parkersburg,  in  western  Virginia.  I  entered  upon  my 
new  duties  with  a  firm  trust  in  God,  resolving  to  do  the 
best  I  could.  From  "notes  by  the  way"  I  extract  the 
following : 

Columbus,  0.,  October  14,  1841.— The  field  of  labor 
assigned  me  this  year  is  as  new  as  it  was  unexpected. 
My  task  at  best  is  an  unpleasant  one.  From  what  I 
have  already  experienced,  I  feel  I  shall  need  the 
grace  of  patience.  By  the  grace  of  God,  I  have  re- 
solved faithfully  to  execute  the  responsible  duties 
assigned  me.     Thus   far  I  have  succeeded  better  than 


288         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AX    ITINERANT. 

I  anticipated.  My  religious  enjoyments  have  not  di- 
minished by  the  discharge  of  my  duties  as  an  agent 
In  my  present  relation  to  the  conference,  I  feel  that  ] 
am  doing  the  will  of  God.  I  am  safe,  in  the  order  of 
Divine  providence,  "acting  in  all  things  not  according  to 
my  own  will,  but  as  a  son  in  the  Gospel."  Since  confer- 
ence I  have  preached  once  every  Sabbath,  and,  in  some 
places,  twice,  in  addition  to  my  duties  as  a  u  begging 
age?it"  during  the  week.  God  has  not  forsaken  me  in  a 
strange  land.  I  find  the  same  warm-hearted,  generous 
feeling  in  the  north  which  I  have  so  often  experienced  in 
the  south  part  of  our  conference.  On  Sabbath  last  I 
heard  a  most  excellent  sermon  from  Bishop  Waugh,  and 
at  night  an  eloquent  and  beautiful  sermon  from  Rev. 
Thomas  Sargent,  of  the  Baltimore  conference.  Many 
will  long  remember  his  pleasing  manner  of  address,  and 
his  urgent  appeal,  at  the  close,  to  the  unconverted.  In 
the  love-feast,  on  last  Monday  night,  we  had  "  good 
measure,  pressed  down,  shaken  together,  and  running 
over."  Brother  J.  M.  Trimble,  the  pastor  of  the  Church, 
arose  to  read  his  first  "  quarterly  report/'  but  was  so 
overwhelmed  with  the  Divine  glory  that  he  forgot  it,  and 
commenced  clapping  his  hands,  giving  "  glory  to  God." 
Upon  recollecting  himself,  however,  he  remarked,  by 
way  of  an  apology,  that  he  was  of  the  opinion  the  best 
item  of  the  report  was,  "they  were  all  happy  in  the 
love  of  God  f  to  which  brother  Sehon  responded,  that 
he  "  had  no  doubt  that  report  was  accepted  in  heaven  !" 
Amen. 

After  laboring  several  weeks  for  Worthington  Female 
Seminary  in  Ohio,  I  returned  to  Cincinnati,  and  took 
passage  on  a  steam-boat  for  Parkersburg,  where  I  lahored 
for  more  than  two  weeks  in  behalf  of  the  Asbury  Acad- 
emy. The  first  Sabbath  after  my  arrival,  at  the  close 
of  the  morning  sermon,  I  explained  the   nature  of  mj 


MY    AGENCY.  289 

agency,  and  the  object  of  my  visit  among  them,  to  raise 
funds  by  subscription  to  build  a  new  seminary  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  our  Church  in  western  Virginia.  I 
preached  again  in  the  evening,  and  on  Monday  morning, 
at  ten  o'clock,  to  all  the  schools  and  a  large  number  of 
the  citizens.  In  the  mean  time,  I  presented  more  fully 
the  object  of  my  mission,  and  during  the  first  week  ob- 
tained subscriptions  varying  from  five  to  five  hundred 
dollars,  amounting  in  all  to  thirfy-six  hundred  dollars. 

The  next  Sabbath  I  tried  to  preach  again,  and  on  Mon- 
day morning  resumed  the  work  of  soliciting  subscrip- 
tions to  the  Asbury  Academy.  The  young  gentlemen 
and  ladies  in  attendance  at  the  academy  subscribed  the 
handsome  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars.  I  received  a 
number  of  liberal  subscriptions  from  benevolent  ladies 
of  the  town  during  the  week,  swelling  my  subscription 
list  to  about  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  This 
was  the  most  successful  effort  that  I  ever  made  in  u  beg- 
ging money. " 

The  next  summer,  at  Charleston  and  Kanawha  Salines, 
the  subscription  was  increased  to  near  five  thousand 
dollars.  I  am  sorry  to  record  here  that  this  money  was 
never  applied  to  the  object  for  which  it  was  subscribed. 
Through  the  influence  of  one  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  the  time  fixed  for  commencing  the  work  was 
postponed.  The  next  spring  new  difficulties  arose,  which 
resulted  in  the  abandonment  of  this  noble  object.  For 
the  want  of  resoluteness  in  that  board  of  trustees,  the 
cause  of  male  and  female  education  has  been  greatly 
hindered  in  western  Virginia. 

I  returned  from  Parkersburg,  Virginia,  to  Portsmouth, 
in  the  latter  part  of  December.  I  found  the  Church  at 
this  place  enjoying  "times  of  refreshing."  The  labors 
of  brother  R.  S.  Foster  had  been  greatly  blessed.  He 
was    absent   at    Maysville,  Kentucky,    on    Sabbath.      I 

25 


290         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT, 

gladly  tarried,  and  joined  in  their  "battle-cry."  The 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  poured  out  upon  us.  I  "gleaned" 
thirteen  souls  during  the  day,  several  of  whom  found 
peace  in  believing.  Two  hundred  have  been  added  to 
the  Church  at  Portsmouth  this  year.  I  presented  suc- 
cessfully the  claims  of  Worthington,  and  reached  Chilli- 
cothe  late  on  the  next  Saturday  night,  after  a  cold, 
tedious  trip  by  canal.  At  this  place  I  witnessed  a  most 
remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  the  follow- 
ing brief  extracts  will  reveal : 

Chillicothe,  Ohio,  January,  1842. —  I  arrived  here 
late  on  Saturday  night,  and  did  not  report  myself  till 
Sabbath  morning.  Rev.  John  Miley,  who  is  now  sta- 
tioned here,  received  me  kindly.  I  am  deeply  indebted 
to  him  for  ministerial  services  long  since  rendered, 
some  of  which  date  back  to  the  time  that  he  was  a 
student  at  Augusta  College.  I  am  glad  of  an  oppor- 
tunity to  render  him  aid  in  "time  of  need."  Yester- 
day, at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  I  preached  to  a  large 
audience  with  great  liberty.  God  enlarged  my  soul  and 
blessed  the  congregation.  Brother  Miley  intends  to  pro- 
tract the  meeting.  There  are  unmistakable  signs  of 
revival  here.  I  was  kindly  entertained  at  the  house  of 
brother  Jacob  S.  Atwood,  Esq.,  during  my  stay  at  Chilli- 
cothe.  I  raised  a  considerable  amount  for  the  Worthiug- 
ton  female  school,  and  received  many  personal  tokens  of 
friendship  during  my  stay.  We  held  meeting  e\ery 
night  and  sometimes  during  the  day.  The  work  went 
steadily  forward,  gathering  into  the  Church  many  of  the 
best  citizens  of  the  place. 

Chillicothe,  Ohio,  January  13,  1842.— (01*  J.  S.  At- 
wooaV  s.) — Since  my  arrival  at  this  place,  I  have  wit- 
nessed another  wonderful  manifestation  of  the  Divine 
power  in  awakening  and  converting  sinners.  I  have 
had  a  time  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Loi'l 


MY    AGENCY.  291 

in  my  own  soul.  Up  to  this  time — since  my  arrival — ■ 
two  hundred  have  been  added  to  our  Church,  and  more 
than  one  hundred  have  already  professed  to  find  peace 
in  believing.  The  good  work  goes  on  without  the  least 
abatement.  Brother  Miley  and  myself  are  both  now 
fully  harnessed  for  the  battle,  and  pull  sweetly  together 
like  "true  yoke-fellows. "  The  Church  comes  up  to  the 
"help  of  the  Lord"  nobly.  The  old  soldiers,  such  as 
Judge  Thomas  Orr  and  Judge  M'Clintock,  stand  in  the 
front  ranks.  The  arm  of  the  Lord  is  made  bare  at  every 
coming  together.  The  army  of  the  "redeemed  of  the 
Lord/'  who  have  espoused  the  cause  of  Methodism  in 
this  city,  are  constrained  to  adopt  the  language  of  one 
of  old:  "The  place  is  too  strait  for  me;  give  place 
for  me  that  I  may  dwell." 

A  committee  has  just  been  appointed  to  select  a  suit- 
able site  and  make  arrangements  for  the  erection  of 
another  church  edifice  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the 
city.  "  0,  Zion,  arise  and  shine  !  Enlarge  the  place  of 
thy  tent,  and  let  them  stretch  forth  the  curtains  of 
thy  habitations.  Spare  not;  lengthen  thy  cords  and 
strengthen  thy  stakes ;  for  thou  shalt  break  forth  on 
the  right  hand  and  on  the  left."  Methodism  has  a 
deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  this  community;  it  was 
planted  in  this  beautiful  and  fertile  valley  at  an  early 
period  by  the  veteran  pioneers;  it  has  become  a  goodly 
tree.  Many  of  their  sons  and  daughters  now  repose 
beneath  its  wide-spreading  boughs.  Judge  Bonser  and 
J.  S.  Atwood  have  united  with  us  the  last  week.  Glory 
to  God!  My  soul  is  on  the  wing.  We  have  good  news 
from  Zanesville.  In  a  letter  from  brother  Heath,  I  learn 
that  one  hundred  have  been  added  to  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Glory  to  God !  Amen.  I  expect  to 
leave  here  to  assist  them  at  Circleville,  where,  I  under- 
stand, there  is  a  good  prospect. 


292         FOOT-PRIX  TS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

Many  deep  and  affecting  incidents  occurred  during  the 
revival  at  Chillicothe.  I  will  record  one  or  two.  On 
the  third  day  of  January,  at  the  close  of  the  morning 
service,  a  venerable  form  was  seen  approaching  the  altar, 
to  give  brother  Marlay  his  hand  in  token  of  his  desire  to 
be  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
It  was  Judge  Cook,  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  Ross 
county.  The  audience,  for  a  few  moments,  gave  vent  to 
the  smothered  emotion  of  their  souls  in  a  flood  of  tears 
and  loud  shouts  of  exultation.  His  advanced  age,  al- 
mond locks,  and  reputable  standing  in  community,  en- 
listed the  prayers  and  sympathies  of  the  whole  assembly. 
After  obtaining  permission,  he  walked  into  the  altar,  and 
addressed  his  old  friends  and  neighbors  in  the  most 
touching  manner.  I  took  out  my  pencil  and  tried  to 
write  down  the  words  of  wisdom  that  fell  from  his  aged 
lips.  A  few  days  afterward,  in  conversation  with  him  on 
this  subject,  I  asked  the  privilege  of  using  his  short 
address  whenever  I  thought  it  would  prove  beneficial  to 
others.  I  also  remarked,  at  the  same  time,  it  would  af- 
ford me  additional  pleasure  if  he  would  reduce  his  own 
address  to  writing,  as  I  should  like  very  much  to  preserve 
his  autograph.  To  this  proposition  he  very  cordially  as- 
sented, and,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  I  received  from 
him  a  letter,  a  copy  of  which  I  furnish  my  readers : 

"Rev.  Maxwell  P.  Gaddis  —  Dear  Sir,— The  fol- 
lowing is  the  substance,  and,  I  believe,  the  exact  words, 
I  made  use  of  in  my  short  address  on  the  third  of  Janu- 
ary, 1842,  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  when  I 
presented  myself  at  the  altar  as  a  candidate  for  member- 
ship. Isaac  Cook. 

"Were  it  not  for  advanced  age  and  long  residence  in 
this  county,  with  some  other  circumstances,  best  known 
to  myself,  I  should  have  let  the  present  occasion  pass  by 
in   perfect  silence.     It  may  be  thought,  by  many,  that 


Mr    AGENCY.  293 

this  is  the  first  time  that  the  subject  of  religion  has  ever 
struck  my  mind.  Not  so.  Circumstances  and  difficulties 
have  intervened  and  prevented  me  from  becoming  a 
member  of  a  Church.  Those  difficulties  have  been  prop- 
erly, prudently,  and  mildly  explained  away.  I  am  not 
aware  that  I  am  at  present  about  to  enter  upon  the  inves- 
tigation of  a  new  and  complicated  theory  of  religion,  nor 
do  I  expect  materially  to  change  my  moral  action.  If  I 
have  been  a  stumbling-block  in  the  way  of  others,  I  am 
not  conscious  of  it;  but  permit  me  now  to  say,  in  the 
presence  of  my  God  and  this  congregation,  I  now  roll  the 
stumbliDg-block  away,  and  leave  the  passage  clear.  I  am 
well  aware  of  the  warm  solicitude  of  many  of  my  near 
and  dear  friends  that  I  should  become  a  member  of  a 
Church.  Let  me  now  say  to  them  that  their  kind  solici- 
tude is  very  grateful  to  my  feelings,  and  I  hope,  by  the 
assistance  of  a  kind  Providence,  that  I  may  conduct  my- 
self in  such  a  manner  as  not  to  mar  their  feelings,  or 
disappoint  their  expectations. 

"  I  now  stand  before  you  in  the  character  of  a  man — 
poor,  frail  man — subject  to  temptation  and  human  frail- 
ty, and  it  is  more  than  likely  that  I  shall  claim  at  your 
hands  much  forbearance  and  kind  indulgence. 

M '  While  youth,  and  beauty  round  us  shine, 
And  festive  scenes  our  cares  beguile, 
Unconscious  time  steals  quick  away, 
Leaves  youth  and  beauty  to  decay. 

The  flow'ry  scenes  in  opening  spring, 

The  pluming  birds  that  sweetly  sing, 

Soon  feel  the  stroke  of  Time's  cold  hand, 

And  must  submit  at  his  command.'  I.  C." 

In  about  ten  days  after  this  was  written,  brother  Cook 
was  taken  suddenly  ill,  and  died  in  great  peace.  It  is 
true  he  came  in  at  the  "  eleventh  hour,"  but  God,  who  is 
"rich  in  mercy,"   will  give  him  his   " wages,"   even  a 


294  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

crown  of  life  which  fadeth  not  away.  How  mysterious 
the  ways  of  Providence !  A  single  remark,  made  by  a 
granddaughter  of  brother  Cook,  was  the  means  of 
bringing  him  home  to  God  during  the  progress  of  the 
revival.  Four  hundred  and  upward  joined  Church  before 
the  close  of  that  meeting.  A  new  church  was  erected 
the  next  year,  and  has  prospered  much  beyond  the  hopes 
of  its  warmest  friends.  Within  the  last  few  years  the 
first  charge  has  also  erected  a  new  and  elegant  Church  on 
Walnut-street. 

I  can  not  close  this  chapter  without  furnishing  the 
reader  the  following  history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of 
the  Worthington  Female  Seminary.  It  is  from  the  pen 
of  Rev.  Uriah  Heath,  the  present  presiding  elder  of 
the  Columbus  district,  than  whom  the  institution  has 
had  no  warmer  friend,  and  who  has  served  it  for  many 
years  as  agent  and  trustee  in  the  most  indefatigable 
manner : 

"  The  Worthington  Female  Seminary  originated  in 
the  energy  and  ability  of  Miss  Serepta  Marsh  and  Rev. 
Jacob  Young.  The  first  demonstrated  the  possibility  of 
a  superior  school  in  a  western  village,  without  the  aid  of 
suitable  buildings  or  school  endowment;  and  the  second, 
by  his  ready  perception,  generous  encouragement,  and 
untiring  labors,  brought  the  subject  fairly  before  the 
community.  These  leading  spirits  were  sustained  by  the 
noble  generosity  and  public  spirit  of  the  citizens  of 
Worthington  and  its  vicinity.  The  school  was  opened 
in  a  small  frame  building,  now  used  as  a  dwelling-house, 
and  the  first  public  examination,  though  highly  satisfac- 
tory, could  only  be  witnessed  by  about  forty  persons 
beside  the  school.  This  exhibition  of  the  capabilities 
of  the  female  mind,  though  now  looked  upon  as  small, 
compared  with  what  we  have  often  witnessed  since,  then 
produced  a  powerful  effect.     A   spirit    if  generosity  was 


MY    AGENCY.  295 

manifested  by  many  of  the  patrons  of  the  school,  and 
visitors,  delighted  with  the  exercises,  and  a  spontaneous 
effusion  of  the  deep  feeling  which  struggled  in  their 
hearts,  supplied  the  school  with  desks  and  suitable  con- 
veniences for  the  ensuing  term.  It  was  clear,  on  this 
first  public  occasion,  that  parents  felt  a  thrill  of  satisfac- 
tion as  they  witnessed  the  improvement  of  their  daugh- 
ters, which  no  moneyed  consideration  could  produce. 

"In  the  close  of  September,  in  the  year  1837,  sister 
Marsh  drew  up  that  able  address  to  the  Ohio  annual  con- 
ference, which  won  the  admiration  of  that  body,  and 
which  was  so  favorably  and  cordially  acted  upon  by  the 
conference  on  the  third  of  October  following.  Accom- 
panying this  address  to  the  conference  was  a  subscrip- 
tion-list, exhibiting,  in  responsible  pledges  from  the  citi- 
zens, about  three  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection  of 
Buitable  buildings.  The  action  of  the  conference  was  of 
the  most  decided  character,  pledging  to  the  institution 
"their  whole  and  undivided  support/'  The  zeal  of 
father  Young  was  only  increased  by  the  action  of  the 
conference;  and,  calling  to  his  aid  such  men  in  his  dis- 
trict as  were  willing  to  co-operate  with  him  in  this  good 
work,  and  receiving  the  encouragement  of  many  excel- 
lent spirits  at  a  distance,  the  interest  was  increased 
through  a  large  portion  of  the  conference. 

"On  the  18th  of  the  following  December  the  memo- 
rial of  the  Ohio  conference  to  the  Legislature  of  Ohio 
was  prepared,  and  presented  by  Rev.  William  Herr, 
of  Columbus  station,  and  Uriah  Heath,  of  Worthington 
circuit.  This  paper  met  with  a  very  favorable  reception, 
md  a  charter  was  granted  by  that  body,  constituting 
eleven  trustees  as  the  holders  of  a  trust  jointly  for  the 
donors  to  the  institution  and  the  Ohio  conference.  This 
board  must  always  be  composed  of  three  classes — three 
members  of  the  Ohio  conference,  four  lay  members  of 


296  TOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  four  gentlemen  not 
members  of  said  Church,  each  of  whom  must  nave 
given  at  least  twenty-five  dollars  to  the  Seminary.  The 
corporation  is  privileged  to  hold  fifty  thousand  dollars 
of  property,  and  the  charter  is  always  to  be  construed  on 
the  most  liberal  principles. 

"  Arrangements  were  immediately  made  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  contemplated  building,  and  the  school,  which 
was  rapidly  increasing,  was  removed  from  the  small 
frame  building  to  the  Masonic  Hall;  and,  through  the 
kindness  of  that  body,  we  were  favored  with  this  room 
till  the  new  building  was  ready  for  occupancy.  On  the 
25th  day  of  July,  1839,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present 
building  was  laid,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  assembly, 
by  Rev.  Jacob  Young,  and  the  audience  were  favored 
with  a  stirring  and  powerful  address  by  the  late  Rev. 
Samuel  Lewis,  then  acting  as  the  Superintendent  of 
Common  Schools  for  the  state.  A  subscription  of  five 
hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars  testified  the  satisfaction 
of  the  audience  with  the  enterprise  itself,  and  the  man- 
ner in  which  its  claims  were  presented. 

"The  institution  was  favored  with  the  zealous  and 
successful  labors  of  Miss  Marsh,  as  the  first  Principal,  till 
her  marriage  with  Dr.  H.  Baker,  of  the  Ohio  conference. 
Her  place  was  filled  by  the  election  of  Miss  Harrietta 
Smith,  of  the  Barleywood  Seminary.  Miss  Smith  was 
every  way  worthy  to  succeed  Miss  Marsh,  but,  like  her 
predecessor,  she  went  from  the  midst  of  her  affectionate 
pupils,  and,  with  the  warmest  wishes  of  her  friends,  into 
the  Methodist  itinerancy,  as  the  companion  of  Dr.  D.  P. 
Kidder.  Miss  Smith  was  followed  by  Rev.  Alexander 
Nelson,  the  present  Principal  of  the  Baldwin  Institute. 
Brother  Nelson  was  competent  as  a  scholar,  faithful  as 
a  teacher,  and  judicious  as  a  principal,  and  served  the 
institution  successfully  for  four  years.     Rev.   E.  M.  Bo- 


MY    AGENCY.  297 

ring,  the  present  presiding  elder  of  Marietta  district, 
and  a  graduate  of  Augusta  College,  succeeded  brother 
Nelson  j  but  preferring  the  regular  work,  and  feeling  the 
obligations  of  the  ministry  press  upon  his  mind,  while 
conscious  of  sufficient  health  for  the  duties  of  the  min- 
istry, he  resigned  his  post  at  the  close  of  the  first  year, 
and  was  succeeded  by  31rs.  H.  L.  Porter,  who  had  been 
associated  with  him  the  year  previous,  and  who  had 
taught,  with  great  ability,  in  the  City  of  Washington. 
Kev.  William  D.  Godman,  of  the  North  Ohio  confer- 
ence, having  married  her  adopted  daughter,  was,  by  the 
mutual  wish  of  herself  and  the  Trustees,  elected  Prin- 
cipal, while  sister  Porter  still  held  the  post  of  Govern- 
ess. Brother  Godman,  who  was  the  first  graduate  of 
the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  and  a  ripe  scholar  for  his 
age,  held  this  post  for  two  years  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  friends  of  the  school  and  the  profit  of  those  in- 
trusted to  his  care;  but  death  calling  away  his  loved 
companion,  the  place  became  one  of  so  mournful  associ- 
ations that  he  resigned  his  position  for  the  regular 
worn  in  his  own  conference.  His  place  was  filled  by  the 
election  of  our  present  loved  and  esteemed  brother,  Rev. 
O.  M.  Spencer,  who  is  also  a  graduate  of  the  Ohio  Wes- 
leyan University,  and  one  whom  v:e  deem  every  way  quali- 
fied for  the  place.  Brother  Spencer  has  now  served  the 
Seminary  for  nearly  three  years  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and,  with  his  able  corps  of 
teachers,  merits  and  receives  the  love  of  both  parents  and 
pupils. 

uThe  cost  of  the  Seminary  premises,  buildings,  etc., 
is  about  fourteen  thousand  dollars.  The  grounds  are 
neat  and  tasteful,  embracing  an  oblong  square  of  three 
acres,  and  the  main  building  is  seventy-five  feet  long  and 
forty-three  feet  wide,  and  four  stories  high,  including  the 
basement;  and  there  is  also  a  neat  and  comfortable  cot- 


298  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

tage-building  as  the  residence  of  the  Principal.  The 
Seminary  is  entirely  clear  of  debt,  except  a  very  small 
amount,  which  is  provided  for;  and  the  Trustees  contem- 
plate other  improvements  during  the  present  season.  The 
institution  has  sent  out  to  different  sections  of  our  own., 
and  to  sister  states,  about  fifty  graduates.  The  prosperity 
of  the  school  has  varied  during  the  eighteen  years  of  its 
existence,  owing  to  the  number  of  schools  which  have 
sprung  into  being  since  the  support  of  the  conference 
was  pledged  to  this;  but  while  we  rejoice  in  the  pros- 
perity of  all,  we  rejoice,  also,  to  say  that  at  no  time, 
since  the  organization  of  this  school,  was  the  number  of 
pupils  so  large,  its  prospects  so  bright,  or  the  attachment 
of  its  friends  more  settled  and  firm,  than  at  the  present 
time." 

It  is  but  justice  to  say,  that  no  individual  has  con- 
tributed more  to  the  upbuilding  and  prosperity  of 
the  Worthington  Female  Seminary  than  Rev.  Uriah 
Heath,  of  the  Ohio  conference,  who  has  acted  several 
times  as  Agent  for  the  institution.  lie  is  still  its  warm 
and  devoted  friend.  Long  may  he  live  to  preach  Christ 
and  him  crucified,  and  plead  the  cause  of  general  edu- 
cation ! 


CHAPTER    XLIII. 

MY    AGENCY  —  CONTINUED. 

After  laboring  for  about  four  weeks  in  Chillicothe,  J 
went  up  to  Circleville  and  labored  in  another  revival  of 
religion,  such  as  was  never  witnessed  in  that  town  before 
nor  since.  Over  three  hundred  were  added  to  our  com 
munion  in  less  than  three  weeks.  The  work  was  of  a 
remarkable   character;    it  spread  over  the   entire   town 


MY    AGENCY  —  CONTINUED.  299 

and  into  every  Church.  This  meeting  was  followed  by 
a  great  deal  of  sickness,  and  many  who  embraced  the 
Savior  died  soon  after  in  great  triumph.  Rev.  Joseph 
H.  Creighton,  of  the  Ohio  conference,  was  converted  to 
God  during  that  meeting.  Rev.  J.  C.  Bontecou  was 
pastor  of  the  Church,  and  labored  with  great  success, 
and  was  much  beloved  among  the  people. 

From  Circleville  I  traveled  north  as  far  as  Columbus, 
and  assisted  my  old  friend,  brother  J.  M.  Trimble,  for 
several  weeks.  Here  I  witnessed  another  glorious  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit.  About  one  hundred  and  twenty 
joined  while  I  remained  there,  and  more  than  that 
number  found  peace  in  believing.  Brother  Trimble  car- 
ried on  the  meeting  till  late  in  the  spring.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  popular  preachers  in  the  west — full  of  faith 
and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  a  most  indefatigable  pastor. 
He  was  a  great  favorite  in  Columbus. 

From  Columbus  I  went  to  Worthington,  and  wit- 
nessed the  conversion  of  many  of  the  young  ladies  and 
citizens  of  the  place.  From  "my  notes  by  the  way"  I 
extract  the  following: 

Worthington  Female  Seminary,  February,  1842. — The 
prospects  of  this  Seminary  were  never  more  nattering 
than  at  present.  The  Principal,  sister  Harrietta  Smith, 
is  universally  beloved  by  the  pupils  and  patrons  of  the 
school.  Through  her  indefatigable  labors  of  love  and 
unobtrusive  piety,  most  of  the  young  ladies  in  attend- 
ance the  present  session  have  been  brought  under  re- 
ligious influence.  Upward  of  twenty  have  already  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  they  all  appear 
happy  in  a  Savior's  love.  A  female  class  has  been  or- 
ganized at  the  Seminary,  of  which  sister  Smith  is  the 
leader.  Such  meetings  are  seasons  of  great  spiritual 
comfort.  One  young  lady  was  heard  to  exclaim,  when 
happy,  and  praising  God  aloud,  "If  I  should  receive  no 


300  FOOT- PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

other  benefit  from  attending  this  Seminary  than  this  I 
am  well  paid  for  coming  to  Worthington."  This  was 
no  doubt  the  feelings  of  all  who  had  been  "made  par- 
takers of  like  precious  faith."  Miss  Eveline  Smith,  the 
teacher  of  music,  is  a  sweet  spirit  and  a  great  favoiite 
with  her  pupils.  God  bless  this  Female  Seminary;  and 
in  all  future  time  may  "holiness  to  the  Lord"  be  legi- 
bly inscribed  upon  its  halls  ! 

The  total  amount  of  collections  and  subscriptions  up  to 
this  time  is  over  one  thousand  dollars,  and  I  have  also 
received  large  donations  to  the  library  and  a  fine  collec- 
tion of  shells  and  minerals. 

In  the  spring  I  returned  to  Cincinnati  to  visit  brother 
Christie,  who  was  lying  very  ill  at  his  brother-in-law's, 
ML  B.  Wright,  M.  D.  From  Cincinnati  I  went  up  to 
Parkersburg  to  attend  the  examination  of  Asbury  Acad- 
emy, under  the  care  of  Professor  Battelle.  Preached 
twice  the  next  Sabbath  in  Marietta.  The  next  week  I 
traveled  through  Zanesville  and  Columbus,  to  attend  the 
annual  examination  of  the  Worthington  Female  Semi- 
nary. This  was  a  deeply-interesting  occasion.  Rev.  D. 
P.  Kidder,  D.  D.,  delivered  the  annual  address.  At  the 
close  of  the  exercises  sister  Harrietta  Smith  and  brother 
Kidder  were  united  in  marriage  by  Rev.  Jacob  Young. 
The  ceremony  took  place  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  presence  of  the  pupils  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  citizens.  The  resignation  of  sister  Smith  was  a 
heavy  stroke  upon  the  institution.  But,  as  the  loss  of 
the  institution  resulted  in  great  "good"  to  brother  K., 
none  felt  disposed  to  murmur  except  the  pupils  of  sister 
Smith,  who  mourned  and  wept  at  her  departure  as  at 
the  funeral  of  a  deceased  friend.  They  wept  bitter  tears 
of  regret  as  they  sung,  on  that  memorable  night, 

"How  oft  have  we  gather'd  in  prayer, 
When  daylight  was  closing  around, 


DYING    BED    OF    AN    ITINERANT.  301 

And  breathed  on  the  still  evening  air 
Our  wishes  in  love  most  profound  1 

How  oft  has  our  Father  above 

Been  graciously  pleased  to  meet, 
And  fill  with  the  fragrance  of  love 

The  place  of  our  evening  retreat !" 

At  the  close  of  the  examination  I  resumed  my  travels, 
and  passed  through  the  towns  of  Lancaster,  Rushville, 
Thorn ville,  Somerset,  Logan,  and  Athens.  At  Xewark  1 
witnessed  another  most  gracious  revival.  I  preached  two 
weeks  for  Rev.  Cyrus  Brooks,  who  was  in  feeble  health 
at  that  time.  Two  hundred  were  added  as  the  result  of 
that  protracted  effort.  I  will  never  forget  the  wonder- 
ful work  of  God  among  that  people.  They  did  not  forget 
our  Seminary.  I  again  visited  Parkersburg  and  returned 
to  Ohio,  passed  through  Chester,  and  spent  a  delightful 
Sabbath  at  Pomeroy. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

A    VISIT    TO    THE    DYING    BED    OP    AN 

ITINERANT. 

While  at  Pomeroy,  in  Meigs  county,  I  heard  of  the 
illness  of  Rev.  Isaac  C.  Hunter,  and  early  on  Monday 
morning  I  started  for  his  residence  in  the  town  of  Gal- 
lipolis.  On  my  arrival  I  found  him  much  better,  and 
his  friends  all  encouraged  to  hope  for  his  speedy  recov- 
ery. However,  we  were  all  doomed  to  a  sore  disappoint- 
ment He  spent  a  feverish,  restless  night,  and  was  con- 
siderably annoyed  by  a  severe  cough.  His  disease  was 
inflammation  of  the  lungs.  On  Tuesday  morning,  during 
prayers,  he  seemed  much  engaged  in  prayer  for  himself, 
and  often  responded  audibly  to  petitions  offered  by  us 


302  FOOT-PRINTS    OPiAN    ITINERANT. 

On  arising  from  our  knees  he  took  my  hand  in  his,  and 
in  answer  to  my  inquiry,  u  Brother  Hunter,  how  have  you 
enjoyed  yourself  during  your  affliction  ?"  he  responded 
with  a  smile,  "Very  well,  very  well,  indeed.  Ah! 
brother  Gaddis,  I  sought  and  found  the  Lord  in  my-. 
youth,  and  have  not  only  given  him  the  morning  but 
noon  also.  Yes,  I  have  spent  the  prime  of  my  life  in 
his  service,  and  I  feel  that  he  sustains  me  now.  For 
twenty-three  years  I  have  labored  hard  in  his  vineyard, 
and  never  lost  one  appointment  on  account  of  ill  health. 
Sometimes  I  have  felt  like  writing  bitter  things  against 
myself  for  laboring  so  hard;  but  upon  a  review  of  the 
whole  I  do  not  regret  it  now.  During  the  past  winter  I 
labored  unusually  hard  upon  my  district;  but  then  God 
has  blessed  my  labors,  and  we  have  had  glorious  revivals." 
He  seemed  cheerful,  and  continued  to  speak  of  his  relig- 
ious state  for  more  than  an  hour.  Not  long  after  this  he 
was  seized  with  a  violent  spell  of  coughing,  which  lasted 
nearly  thirty  minutes.  Although  he  was  a  man  of  great 
muscular  power,  this  paroxysm  quite  prostrated  him. 
This  was  soon  followed  by  still  more  unfavorable  symp- 
toms and  signs  of  approaching  dissolution.  He  seemed 
very  anxious,  as  he  said,  "  to  know  the  worst  of  his  case;" 
and  after  speaking  with  his  family  on  the  subject  he 
requested  Doctor  Morgan,  his  attending  physician,  to 
hold  a  consultation  in  his  room  with  all  the  doctors  in 
the  place.  They  were  summoned  immediately,  and  after 
spending  more  than  one  hour  together  in  close  consulta- 
tion, they  rose  up,  one  at  a  time,  and  quietly  left  the 
room  without  making  known  to  brother  Hunter  the  result 
of  their  deliberations. 

I  was  sitting  in  the  parlor  below  as  the  last  one  of 
their  number  was  about  to  depart.  Sister  Hunter  ac- 
costed him  as  follows:  "Now,  sir,  I  can  not  let  you  go 
till  you  tell  me  whether  you  think  Mr.  Hunter  will  die 


DYING    BED    OF    AN    ITINERANT.  303 

or  not."  He  replied,  "Well,  madam,  I  am  sorry  to  tell 
you  that  it  is  our  united  opinion  that  he  will  not  recover 
from  this  attack."  This  deeply  affected  her,  and  she 
went  up  stairs  and  burst  into  tears  as  she  took  her  seat 
on  the  foot  of  his  bed.  As  I  approached  his  bedside  he 
took  my  hand  in  his  and  said,  "Well,  brother  Or.,  they 
think  it  doubtful  whether  I  will  recover,  do  they  not?" 
I  then  replied,  "I  will  now  do  with  you,  brother  Hunter, 
as  I  wish  my  friends  to  do  with  me  when  they  consider 
me  dangerously  ill — not  to  conceal  it  from  me,  but  let  me 
know  my  true  condition."  To  which  he  calmly  replied, 
"I  hope  you  will  do  so."  I  then  informed  him  that  it  was 
their  united  opinion,  that  his  recovery  was  extremely 
doubtful,  but  his  attending  physician  had  some  hope  yet. 
This  was  a  solemn  hour,  never  to  be  forgotten.  He  lay 
calm  and  composed  for  some  time,  apparently  wrapped  up 
in  profound  meditation.  I  then  ventured  to  ask  him  the 
following  question:  "Brother  Hunter,  in  view  of  ap- 
proaching dissolution,  do  you  still  feel  your  confidence 
firm  and  unshaken  in  God  ?"  To  which  he  responded, 
"  0  yes,  I  feel  that  the  Lord  is  my  portion,"  and  then 
added,  "I  want  you  all  to  pray  for  me  now."  And  then 
he  placed  his  hands  upon  his  breast,  and  lifted  his  eyes 
toward  heaven  and  prayed  thus  with  a  strong,  unfalter- 
ing voice:  "Now,  0  Lord,  if  there  is  aught  of  guilt 
stains,  or  any  impurity  yet  in  my  poor  heart,  cut  short 
the  work  in  righteousness  and  wash  it  all  away.  I  know 
the  blood  of  Jesus  is  sufficient."  He  lay  still  for  some 
moments,  and  then  exclaimed,  "I  know  it!  I  feel  it! 
This  precious  blood  has  cleansed  me  from  all  sin  !"  He 
then  took  hold  of  my  hand  and  said,  with  much  tender- 
ness, "Now,  brother  Gaddis,  if  I  die  1  want  you  to  tell 
my  brethren  of  the  Ohio  conference  that  I  love  them; 
yea,  I  love  them  in  the  bowels  of  Jesus  Christ.  Yes,  I 
love  them  better  than  any  set  of  men  on  earth.     They 


304         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

are  the  most  charitable,  generous,  and  affectionate  men 
that  I  have  ever  known  on  earth."  Then  looking  at  his 
weeping  wife  and  children  he  said,  with  great  emotion, 
"  Tell  them  to  remember  my  wife  and  dear  little  children." 
After  a  short  pause  he  proceeded  to  remark:  "You 
know,  brother  Gaddis,  upon  most  all  the  subjects  brought 
before  conference  I  generally  spoke  my  mind  freely,  and 
if  at  any  time,  with  some  apparent  harshness  of  manner, 
I  seemed  to  cross  the  path  of  my  brethren,  I  loved  them 
none  the  less.  I  believe  they  all  thought  I  was  honest 
and  sincere,  did  they  not?"  On  being  assured  of  the 
reciprocal  good-will  of  his  brethren,  he  continued  to 
remark,  "  Were  I  to  live  I  know  I  could  do  a  little  good 
and  be  of  some  service  to  my  family;  but,  then,  I  know 
the  Church  can  do  without  me,  and  God  will  take  care 
of  my  family."  His  joy  was  now  very  great,  and  he 
could  no  longer  restrain  his  -feelings  or  tears,  and  he 
cried  aloud,  "  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  all  that  is 
within  me,  bless  his  holy  name !"  With  his  eyes  fixed 
upon  heaven  he  repeated, 

"  There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight, 
Where  saints  immortal  reign ; 
Infinite  day  excludes  the  night, 
And  pleasures  banish  pain. 

All  o'er  those  wide,  extended  plains, 

Shines  one  eternal  day ; 
There  God  the  Son  forever  reigns, 

And  scatters  night  away." 

After  which  he  raised  himself  up  in  bed,  clapped  his 
hands,  and  shouted  aloud  for  joy.  "0,"  said  he,  "I 
feel  much  better !  Thank  God,  I  feel  half  well !"  He 
said  ne  was  not  afraid  of  death,  and  the  grave  had  no 
gloom  for  him  now;  and  then  added,  with  his  usual 
power  of  voice, 

"An  angel's  arm  can't  snatch  me  from  the  grave; 
Yet  legions  of  angels  can  not  confine  me  there." 


DYING    BED    OF    AN     ITINERANT.  305 

I  bade  him  adieu  the  next  morning.  On  Sunday  he 
gave  directions  concerning  his  funeral,  and  for  the  infor- 
mation of  the  conference  gave  the  time  and  place  of  his 
birth,  and  then  told  his  friends  he  was  ready — "that  he 
could  look  away  over  hill  and  dale,  valley  and  mountain, 
to  the  land  of  everlasting  bliss. " 

After  I  left  brother  Hunter  he  was  visited  by  Rev. 
Mighil  Dustin,  who  remained  with  him  till  he  breathed 
his  last. 

The  following  letter  from  brother  D.  will  be  read  with 
great  interest : 

"Dear  Brother  Gaddis, — You  requested  me  to  give 
you  some  account  of  the  last  hours  of  Rev.  Isaac  C. 
Hunter. 

"His  death,  as  you  know,  occurred  June  27,  1842,  in 
G-allipolis,  Ohio.  His  field  of  labor  at  that  time  was 
Marietta  district,  and  mine  was  within  the  bounds  of  his 
district.  Having  heard  of  his  extreme  illness,  I  started 
immediately  to  see  him.  I  reached  Gallipolis  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  26th,  the  day  before  his  death.  I  found 
him  very  ill,  and  suffering  at  times  most  intensely  with  a 
pain  in  his  right  side.  He  was  in  the  full  possession  of 
all  his  faculties,  and  conversed  freely  and  familiarly  on 
different  subjects.  He  seemed  most  inclined,  however, 
to  talk  about  the  condition  and  prospects  of  the  Church 
within  the  bounds  of  the  district. 

"He  suggested  a  plan  by  which  the  quarterly  meetings 
could  be  fully  supplied  with  ministerial  labor  till  the 
close  of  the  conference  year.  After  this  he  conversed  a 
little  in  relation  to  himself.  He  said  he  was  fully  con- 
scious of  his  imperfections,  and  had  been  all  his  life; 
but  his  trust  was  in  the  merits  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
and  he  felt  then  that  Jesus  was  present  and  precious  to 
his  soul.  He  said  during  his  ministry  he  had  often 
found  it  necessary  to  preach  against  erroneous  and  strange 
26 


308  FOOT-TRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

doctrines,  and  in  some  of  his  controversial  discourses  lie 
had  been  accused  of  uncharitableness  toward  his  oppo- 
nents, and  even  sonic  of  his  brethren  had  not  altogether 
approved  of  his  course  in  this  respect;  'But/  said  he; 
'  in  my  opposition  to  false  doctrines  I  have  been  honest 
before  God.  I  may  have  erred  in  judgment,  but  it  has 
been  my  first  wish  to  please  God,  and  then,  as  far  as  I 
could  consistently,  to  please  man  for  his  good  to  edi- 
fication.' 

"He  then  spoke  of  his  approaching  death,  but  as  calmly 
and  deliberately  as  if  he  had  only  been  talking  of  a  little 
journey  which  he  was  going  to  take.  He  gave  full  and 
minute  directions  in  relation  to  his  funeral.  He  said  it 
would  make  no  difference  to  him  where  his  ashes  lay;  it 
was  as  near  heaven  from  one  place  as  another;  but  as  he 
had  a  son  buried  at  Burlington,  it  would  be  best,  he 
thought,  that  he  should  be  buried  there.  His  friends, 
he  presumed,  would  prefer  it.  He  said,  as  the  weather 
was  so  excessively  warm,  it  would  be  necessary  to  make 
preparations  for  his  burial  as  soon  as  possible  after  his 
death.  He  said,  with  that  peculiar  energy  which  wt| 
characteristic  of  him  all  through  life,  'Procure  a  large- 
skiff  and  put  the  corpse  on  board,  and  get  three  strong  men, 
and  let  them  roic  with  all  their  might  till  they  get  there* 
None  but  those  who  knew  Isaac  C.  Hunter  can  be  fully 
aware  of  the  emphatic  manner  in  which  these  words  were 
uttered. 

"The  next  day  he  was  worse.  The  pain  in  his  side  was 
more  acute  and  intense,  and  his  strength  was  very  much 
prostrated.  His  mind,  however,  was  calm  and  tranquil, 
and  his  faith  in  Christ  was  unwavering.  He  said  the 
doctrines  which  he  had  preacbed  he  believed  to  be  the 
truths  of  God,  and  the  religion  of  the  Bible  was  no  cun- 
ningly-devised fable.  The  doctrine  of  the  witness  of 
the  Spirit  he  said  was  a  i  glorious   doctrine/     He   then 


DYING    BED    OF    AN    ITINERANT.  307 

quoted  the  text,  '"We  know  that  if  our  earthly  house  of 
this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have  a  building  of 
God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heav 
ens/  This  was  a  favorite  passage.  He  often  quoted  it, 
and  it  seems  to  have  made  at  some  time  a  very  deep  im- 
pression on  his  mind. 

"In  the  afternoon  it  was  manifest  that  he  had  failed 
very  much  and  was  fast  sinking.  Sometimes  he  would 
lie  in  an  apparently-dying  condition  for  half  an  hour  or 
more  at  a  time  and  then  rouse  again.  Once,  after  having 
waked  up  from  one  of  those  stupors,  I  asked  him  if 
Jesus  was  still  precious.  He  said,  '  Yes,  yes.'  In  a  few 
minutes  he  sank  away  again,  and  we  thought  we  had 
heard  his  voice  for  the  last  time.  He  spoke,  however, 
once  or  twice  afterward,  but  only  a  word  or  two  at  a  time. 
An  hour  or  two  more  passed  away.  The  day  was  drawing 
to  a  close.  The  news  had  spread  through  town  that  the 
presiding  elder  was  dying.  Messenger  after  messenger 
came  softly  to  the  gate  and  inquired,  'Is  he  dying V 
Every  one  spoke  in  a  whisper.  The  whole  village  seemed 
still  as  the  house  of  death.  With  breathless  anxiety  the 
people  waited  at  the  gate  to  hear  whether  the  strong 
man  had  yet  fallen.  I  sat  by  his  bedside.  Rev.  A.  M. 
Alexander  was  sitting  near  me.  Two  physicians  were 
also  present,  beside  the  family  and  some  other  friends. 
We  were  expecting  every  moment  to  be  the  last.  Sud- 
denly he  waked  up  from  that  death-like  stupor,  and  looked 
ealmly  around  upon  the  weeping  group.  I  asked  the 
question,  'Have  you  still  a  bright  prospect  of  heaven?' 
He  could  not  answer  in  words,  for  the  power  of  articula- 
tion was  gone.  But  there  is  a  language  of  signs,  and 
sometimes  it  is  more  emphatic  than  verbal  communica- 
tion. It  was  so  on  this  occasion.  A  heavenly  glow 
spread  all  over  his  countenance;  the  fire  of  ecstatic  joy 
flashed  from  his  eye;  he  looked  up,  raised  his  right  hand 


308  FOOT- PR  I  NTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

as  far  as  he  could  reach,  and  with  his  fore-finger  pointed 
upward,  as  much  as  to  say, 

1  There's  my  house  and  portion  fair, 
My  treasure  and  my  heart  are  there!1 

It  was  enough.  No  testimony  could  be  stronger.  No 
demonstration  of  the  power  of  victorious  faith  could  be 
more  complete. 

"He  sunk  away  again,  and  just  as  the  last  rays  of  the 
setting  sun  were  seen  above  the  horizon,  he  passed  from 
earth  to  heaven. 

"  Night  closed  in  upon  us,  and  to  that  group  of  mourn- 
ers it  was  a  dark  and  cheerless  night.  Every  one  was 
sad  and  sorrowful.  All  was  still,  save  the  suppressed 
tones  of  those  who  were  busy  in  making  preparations  for 
the  burial.  In  a  few  hours  the  coffin  was  brought  and 
the  body  deposited  therein.  A  small  procession  was  then 
formed,  and  in  that  solemn  midnight  hour,  while  the 
stars  looked  out  from  behind  the  few  clouds  that  flitted 
across  the  sky,  the  corpse  was  borne  to  the  river,  and 
from  thence  conveyed  in  a  skiff  to  Burlington,  forty-four 
miles  distant,  as  Mr.  Hunter  had  himself  directed  before 
his  death.  The  family  and  other  friends  took  the  first 
boat  the  next  morning  and  reached  Burlington  about 
noon.  At  1  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  corpse  was  conveyed  to 
the  place  of  burial,  followed  by  a  large  number  of  the 
citizens.  We  felt  that  day,  as  we  'smoothed  down  his 
lonely  pillow,'  that  a  great  man  and  a  mighty  had  fallen 
in  Israel. 

"A  more  honest,  faithful,  fearless,  generous,  and  mag- 
nanimous spirit  never  lived  than  Isaac  C.  Hunter.  But 
he  needs  no  eulogy.  His  witness  is  in  heaven,  and  his 
record  is  on  high. 

"Yours,  fraternally,  M.  Dustin. 

"  Springfield,  0." 


don't  come   here  to  beg!  809 

CHAPTER   XLV. 

don't  come  here  to  beg! 

While  engaged  in  soliciting  aid  for  the  Worthington 
Female  Seminary  in  "West  B.,  my  friend,  Mr.  Mc,  said, 
"Come,  brother  Gaddis,  I  want  to  take  you  down  to  see 

Mr.  ;  it  is  very  difficult  to  get  him  to  give  a  cent 

for  any  benevolent  purpose  whatever.  I  think  if  any 
one  would  be  likely  to  succeed  with  him  you  are  the 
very  man;  I  want  you  to  do  the  very  best  you  can.  It 
will  do  him  good  to  give  something — perhaps  make  a 
better  man  of  him."  As  we  walked  along  toward  his 
store  I  told  brother  Mc.  that  he  must  render  me  all  the 
aid   in   his    power.      lie    then    remarked,    "Whenever 

Mr.  pleads  his  want  of  ability  to  give,  which  he 

will  be  sure  to  do,  I  want  you  to  ask  me  in  his  presence 
if  I  think  he  ought  to  be  excused  upon  that  ground." 
I  need  not  detain  the  reader  with  a  minute  detail  of  my 
effort  to  induce  him  to  contribute  to  the  object  of  female 
education.  I  am  pretty  certain  I  spent  about  two  hours 
with  him,  and  labored  hard  a  good  part  of  the  time. 
He  made  all  manner  of  excuses,  and  I  very  patiently 
endeavored  to  answer  them  all  in  regular  order.  With 
the  aid  of  my  friend  Mc.  I  at  last  succeeded  in  getting 
him  to  give  me  the  sum  of  one  dollar.  On  our  return 
my  friend  said,  "I  will  have  to  suffer  abuse  from  that 
man  for  a  long  time  to  come  for  bringing  you  to  his 
store;  but,"  said  he,  "1  will  not  regard  it;  I  am  glad  we 
went  to  see  him;  I  believe  it  will  do  him  good  and  make 
a  better  man  of  him."  Sure  enough,  I  had  not  been 
long  out  of  town  before  this  tight-laced  brother  came 
to  the  store  of  my  good  host  and  berated  him  for  more 
than   one   hour,   and   wound  up    by  saying,    "Now,  sir, 


310  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

when  these  agents,  but,  more  properly  speaking,  lheg- 
gars,'  come  along  through  our  town  I  would  be  glad 
if  you  would  mind  your  own  business;  and  I  now  say, 
once  for  all,  if  you  bring  any  more  of  them  to  my  store 
I  will  insult  them."  He  then  returned  to  his  store,  and 
took  a  piece  of  red  chalk  and  wrote  on  the  wall  near 
the  door,  in  large  letters,  " Don't  come  here  to  beg!" 
"Now,"  said  he,  "I  am  resolved,  whenever  any  man 
comes  into  my  store  begging  money  for  any  purpose 
whatever,  I  will  just  point  him  to  this  inscription  on 
the  wall,  and  ask  him  to  depart  without  further  cere- 
mony." 

Not  long  afterward  he  was  taken  violently  sick  and 
thought  he  was  going  to  die.  His  store  was  closed, 
for  he  had  not  sufficient  confidence  in  his  neighbors  to 
trust  any  one  to  carry  on  his  business  in  his  absence. 
His  conscience  smote  him  severely  for  his  want  of  char- 
ity and  a  benevolence  of  spirit.  Sleep  departed  from 
his  eyes,  and  he  trembled  in  view  of  having  to  give  an 
account  of  his  stewardship.  In  this  miserable  condition 
and  distressed  state  of  mind  he  sent  a  messenger  in 
great  haste  for  my  friend  Mc  ,  who  had  taken  me  to  his 
store  when  at  West  R.  a  few  weeks  before.     As  soon  as 

he  entered  the  sick  chamber  of  Mr. ,  "0,"  said  he, 

"I  am  truly  glad  that  you  are  here;  I  want  to  ask  your 
pardon  for  the  manner  in  which  I  treated  you,  because 
you  brought  Rev.  Mr.  Gaddis  to  my  store  to  beg  for  the 
Seminary.  After  T  went  to  my  store  I  wrote  on  the  wall, 
in  large  letters,  'Don't  come  here  to  beg!'  and  in- 
tended it  should  stand  there  as  a  warning  to  all  travel- 
ing agents  and  beggars  for  money  who  might  enter. 
Now,  I  must  tell  you  that  I  have  slept  none  for  several 
nights  past,  and  whenever  I  shut  my  eyes  those  words 
that  I  inscribed  on  the  wall,  'Don't  come  here  to  bog!' 
like  a  fearful  specter  are  constantly  before  my  distracted 


don't   come   here   fo   beg!  311 

mind.  0,  my  God,  I  would  not  die  and  leave  those 
words  on  the  wall  for  any  consideration !  Do  pray  to 
God  in  my  behalf,  that  he  may  spare  my  life  and  permit 
me  to  return  to  my  store  to  erase  those  dreadful  words 
from  the  wall."  He  also  complained  of  a  severe  pain  in 
his  back,  but  my  friend  Mc.  thought  the  pain  was  in 
his  smitten  conscience.  God  was  merciful  to  him,  and 
in  answer  to  prayer  restored  him  to  health  again.  As 
soon  as  he  was  able  to  walk  he  went  down  to  the  store 
and  erased  from  the  wall  with  his  own  hands  the  ob- 
noxious words,  "Don't  come  here  to  beg!"  In  the  fall, 
on  my  return  through  that  place,  I  met  him,  and  he  took 
me  into  his  store  and  showed  me  the  traces  still  there, 
although  he  had  tried  to  rub  out  all  the  words  as  well 
as  he  could.  He  thanked  me  kindly  for  calling  on  him 
and  urging  him  so  long  to  give  me  something.  He  then 
remarked,  he  would  never  act  such  an  illiberal  part  again 
in  regard  to  the  calls  of  benevolence  and  good  works, 
and  requested  also  that  if  I  ever  come  that  way  again 
begging  for  any  object,  to  be  sure  and  give  him  a  call 
among  the  first,  and  he  assured  me  of  a  kind  reception. 
There  are  many  who  do  not  write  on  the  wall,  "  Don't 
come  here  to  beg!"  that  nevertheless  inscribe  it  upon 
the  tablet  of  their  heart. 

GRAVEYARD— OLD  TRINITY  CHURCH  IN  . 

In  my  journeyings,  when  alone,  I  seldom  passed  by  a 
country  church  graveyard  without  stopping  a  little  sea- 
son to  pray  or  meditate  among  the  tombs.  I  often  in 
this  way  renewed  my  spiritual  strength.  In  old  Trinity 
graveyard  I  spent  a  pleasant  and  profitable  hour.  In 
one  part  of  that  secluded  burial-place  I  noticed  a  num- 
ber of  beautiful  white  tombstones  all  placed  in  a  row. 
The  dead  reposing  there  all  belonged  to  the  same  family. 
I  was  forcibly  struck  with  the  fine  taste  and   peculiar 


312  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

appropriateness  of  the  devices  and  inscriptions  upon 
these  simple  monuments  of  stone.  The  inscriptions 
were  nearly  all  taken  from  the  fourteenth  chapter  of 
Revelation.  Beginning  at  the  foot  they  read  precisely  as 
follows : 

1.  (Child.)  " These  were  redeemed  from  among  men, 
being  the  first  fruits  unto  God  and  the  Lamb." 

2.  "These  are  they  which  follow  the  Lamb  whither- 
soever he  goeth." 

3.  "And  in  their  mouth  was  found  no  guile,  for  they 
are  without  fault  before  the  throne  of  God." 

4.  This  was  the  youngest  child,  a  blossom  nipped  in 
the  bud,  and  placed  next  to  its  mother,  with  this  in- 
scription, "Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me  and 
forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

5.  On  the  grave  of  the  mother  I  found  inscribed  this 
striking  explanation  of  the  affecting  scene,  "That  tney 
may  see,  and  know,  and  consider,  and  understand  to- 
gether, that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  hath  done  this." 
Isaiah  xli,  20. 

6.  Upon  the  tomb  of  the  husband  and  father  it  was 
thus  engraven,  "I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life." 
Well  has  it  been  said, 

"  Touched  by  the  cross  we  live,  or  more  than  die ; 
That  touch  with  charms  celestial  heals  the  soul, 
Diseased,  drives  pain  from  guilt,  lights  life  in  death, 
Turns  earth  to  heaven,  to  heavenly  forms  transforms 
The  ghastly  ruins  of  the  moldering  grave." 


CHAPTER  XLYI. 

A     VISIT     TO    THE      SPRINGS     IN     VIRGINIA. 

Crossing  the  Ohio  river,  I  traveled  up  the  Kanawha 
to  Charleston,   and   stopped   a   few  days   at  the   Salines. 


A    VISIT    TO    THE    SPRINGS.  313 

From  my  "notes  by  the  way/'  I  make  the  following  ex- 
tracts : 

Kanawha  Salines. — At  the  Salines  the  principal  objects 
of  attraction  are,  the  "burning  springs"  and  a  salt-well 
of  Mr.  Tomkin.  The  well  of  Mr.  T.  is  nine  hundred  feet 
deep,  and  contains  a  quantity  of  gas,  sufficient  to  force  the 
water  as  high  as  necessary  without  the  aid  of  a  pump.  A 
stream  of  gas  is  constantly  issuing  from  the  mouth  of  the 
well,  and  has  recently  been  carried  up  by  a  tube  about 
twenty  feet  high.  This  stream  of  gas,  when  ignited, 
beautifully  illuminates  the  salt  works,  and  enables  you  to 
read  a  newspaper  or  book  at  the  distance  of  thirty  yards. 
L  understand  it  is  the  design  of  the  proprietor  to  turn 
it  to  a  more  practical  purpose  soon — to  aid  in  heating 
ihe  salt  kettles. 

Blue  Sulphur  Springs,  Va. — Thank  God,  I  have  arrived 
at  last  at  this  most  beautiful  retreat  in  the  mountains.  I 
have  been  much  delighted  with  my  trip  from  Charleston 
The  falls  of  the  Kanawha  river  are  much  larger  than  I  an- 
ticipated. The  scenery  along  the  banks  of  New  river  is 
wild  and  romantic.  My  visit  to  the  far-famed  Hawk's  Nest 
was  most  gratifying  indeed.  The  dizzy  hight  upon  which 
[  took  my  stand — the  dashing  roar  of  the  waters  sweeping 
along  its  base — the  massy  piles  of  rock  stretching  far 
above,  and  winding  in  various  curves  below,  partly  ob- 
scured by  the  green  and  graceful  drapery  of  the  forest  and 
the  fleecy  mist  which  formed  itself  into  clouds  and  flitted 
over  my  head,  caused  the  involuntary  exclamation,  "Great 
and  marvelous  are  thy  works,  Lord  God  Almighty."  The 
road  to  this  place  traverses  a  wild  region  of  country,  and 
affords  many  grand  and  picturesque  mountain  views.  I 
have  now  spent  three  weeks  at  this  lovely  spot.  I  have 
drank  the  water  and  used  the  sulphur  baths  without  any 
beneficial  result.  God  has  been  very  good  to  me.  I 
enjoy  peace,  constant,  full,  and,  at  times,  swelling  tides  of 


314         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

joy.  During  my  stay  I  have  acted  as  chaplain  for  the 
visitors,  preaching,  and  visiting  the  halt,  lame,  sick,  and 
dying.  I  have  felt  an  especial  interest  in  a  Mrs.  Stan- 
bery,  who  is  dying  of  consumption.  She  is  the  wife  of 
Doctor  Stanbery,  and  sister  to  Mrs.  Duncan,  of  Newark, 
Ohio.  She  can  not  live  long.  I  fear  she  will  never  see 
her  home  again  in  Ohio. 

"Land  of  my  youth,  thy  pleasant  fields 
In  flow'ry  verdure  dress'd, 
Where  once  I  hoped,  life's  journey  done, 
To  lay  me  down  to  rest." 

To  me  there  is  something  peculiarly  melancholy  in  the 
thought  of  dying  from  home,  in  a  strange  land.  0,  may 
I  be  ready  at  all  times  to  "  enter  into  the  joy  of  my 
Lord  !"  Last  Sabbath  I  preached  my  last  sermon  at  this 
place,  from,  "Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled;  ye  believe 
in  God,  believe  also  in  me.  In  my  Father's  house  there 
are  many  mansions/'  etc.  The  audience  was  large  and 
attentive;  many  of  whom  were  from  the  sunny  south, 
the  far  west,  the  frigid  north,  and  others  from  a  more 
eastern  clime.  Many  eyes  were  suffused  with  tears,  and 
others  sobbed  aloud  as  I  told  them  of  that  better  country 
where  the  inhabitants  never  say,  "I  am  sick." 

My  next  visit  was  to  Lewisburg,  thirteen  miles  east- 
ward. Here  I  renewed  my  acquaintance  with  Rev.  Enoch 
Sullivan,  and  formed  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  Rev. 
B.H.Nadal,  now  Professor  of  Languages  in  Indiana  Asbury 
University  at  Greencastle.  I  then  proceeded  to  the 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  nine  miles  east  of  Lewisburg,  in 
Greenbrier  county.  I  spent  one  Sabbath  here,  and  assist- 
ed brother  Nadal  in  holding  a  two-days'  meeting  contigu- 
ous to  the  Springs.  We  had  a  pleasant  time,  and  I  be- 
lieve good  was  done.  The  White  Sulphur,  at  that  time, 
was  considered  the  Elysium  of  the  mountains;  the  resort 
especially  of  the  gay  and  pleasure-hunting  portion  of  this 


A    VISIT    TO    THE    SPRINGS.  315 

Union.  The  spring  is  large,  and,  at  that  time,  covered 
with  a  handsome  dome,  surmounted  with  a  statue  repre- 
senting Hygeia.  She  was  standing  on  a  beautiful  cylin- 
drical pedestal,  covered  with  a  snow-white  drapery,  her 
left  arm  gracefully  folded  in  the  coils  of  a  serpent,  with 
a  bowl  in  her  right  hand  filled  with  sulphur  water,  which 
was  said  to  be  emblematic  of  the  power  of  this  excellent 
spring  to  destroy  all  noxious  diseases.  I  did  not  enjoy 
my  visit  to  this  fashionable  resort,  and  soon  departed  for 
the  Sweet  Springs,  where  I  spent  the  remainder  of  my 
time  allotted  for  recreation  in  the  mountains.  I  have 
often  thanked  my  heavenly  Father  that  he  directed  my 
footsteps  to  that  most  delightful  retreat  for  invalids. 

Sweet  Springs,  Virginia,  August  1,  1842. — This  is  in- 
deed a  sweet  place.  Nature  and  art  combined  have  ren- 
dered it  so.  It  is  the  most  ancient  and  celebrated 
watering-place  in  this  state.  Last  night  we  had  a  fine 
white  frost.  It  is  now  cold  enough  for  fire  night  and 
morning.  The  atmosphere  is  healthful  and  invigorating. 
These  springs,  in  a  direct  line,  are  only  about  eight  miles 
from  the  White  Sulphur,  but  following  the  devious  wind- 
ings of  the  turnpike,  the  distance  is  over  sixteen.  They 
lie  east  of  the  main  ridge  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains, 
at  the  head  of  a  fertile  valley.  This  has  been  a  place  of 
resort  for  upward  of  sixty  years.  The  water  is  not  sweet, 
but  has  a  slight  acidulous  taste  like  soda.  It  contains 
sulphate  of  magnesia,  sulphate  of  lime,  traces  of  iron, 
carbonic  acid  gas,  etc.,  the  excess  of  which  gives  the 
water  a  transparent  briskness.  Its  temperature  is  70° 
Fahrenheit.  The  baths  are  inclosed  in  a  fine  brick 
house,  and  are  of  quadrangular  shape.  The  gentlemen's 
bath  is  five,  and  that  for  the  ladies,  four  feet  deep.  On 
plunging  into  the  bath  you  receive  a  slight  shock,  which 
is  soon  succeeded  by  the  most  pleasurable  sensations. 
The  water  is  of  sufiicient  quantity  to  turn  a  large  mill- 


S16         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

wheel.  Notwithstanding  it  has  been  flowing  thus  copi- 
ously for  centuries  past,  like  the  stream  of  time,  it  still 
flows  on : 

"Flows  and  will  flow  the  ever-fleeting  spring, 
Till  the  last  trump  its  piercing  note  shall  sing." 

I  have  met  but  one  person  here  that  I  have  ever  seen 
before — John  Taylor,  Esq.,  from  Zanesville,  Ohio.  He 
seems  almost  as  near  to  me  as  a  brother.  He  has  come 
here,  not  for  pleasure,  but  with  a  view  to  recover  his 
health.  "We  have  already  spent  many  pleasant  hours 
together,  wandering  along  the  vales  and  climbing  the 
mountain  sides.  My  religious  enjoyment  is  on  the  in- 
crease. "At  home  or  abroad,"  I  am  a  happy  mac,  al- 
though passing  through  "affliction's  furnace."  It  is  true 
I  have  "fightings  without  and  fears  within,"  but  God 
hath  "delivered  my  soul  in  peace  from  the  battle  that 
was  against  me;  for  there  were  many  with  me."  Psalm 
lv,  18. 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

JOYFUL    DELIVERANCE. 

During  my  stay  in  the  mountains  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  month  of  July  there  was  a  most  remarkable 
freshet  in  most  of  the  water-courses  for  a  distance  of 
more  than  fifty  miles  around.  It  swept  off  houses,  mills, 
bridges,  and  fences,  and  spread  devastation,  dismay,  and 
death  along  every  stream,  rivulet,  or  mountain  ravine. 
I  frequently  passed  by  the  spot  between  Lewisburg  and 
the  White  Sulphur  Springs,  on  one  of  the  tributaries 
of  Greenbrier,  where  a  most  remarkable  and  deeply- 
affecting  incident  occurred. 

A  brother  and  sister  who  had  the  entire  charge  of  a 


JOYFUL    DELIVERANCE.  317 

carding-machine  and  fulling-mill  on  this  stream,  after 
naving  finished  the  toils  of  the  day,  retired  to  enjoy  the 
repose  of  innocence  for  the  night.  They  both  slept  in 
separate  apartments  in  the  second  story  of  the  build- 
ing. During  the  forepart  of  the  night  the  rain  fell  in 
copious  showers.  About  midnight  they  were  suddenly 
aroused  from  their  peaceful  slumbers  by  the  frightful 
roar  of  the  mountain  torrents.  They  immediately 
lighted  a  candle,  and  found,  on  examination,  that  the 
stream  had  already  overflown  its  banks  and  the  water 
was  up  to  the  second  story  of  the  machine-house.  Every 
hope  of  escape  to  the  shore  was  cut  off.  To  add  to  the 
horror  of  their  perilous  situation,  the  night  was  fearfully 
dark  and  the  rain  still  descending  in  torrents  from  the 
clouds.  They  were  soon  driven  by  the  swelling  flood 
into  the  third  story  of  the  building.  Here  they  kneeled 
down  and  prayed  together  as  they  supposed  for  the  last 
time  in  this  world.  After  committing  soul  and  body 
into  the  hands  of  a  merciful  God,  who  "sitteth  above 
the  water  floods,"  they  held  a  consultation  as  to  what 
they  should  do  farther  in  order  to  save  their  lives.  The 
brother  was  for  remaining  in  the  mill,  but  the  sister  pro- 
posed to  take  refuge  in  the  strong  arms  of  a  large  tree 
near  the  north-east  corner  of  the  building.  The  brother 
argued  in  this  way,  "If  we  remain  in  the  house,  when 
it  is  swept  off  we  may  possibly  escape  on  some  part  of 
the  wreck;  and  if,"  continued  he,  "we  go  out  upon  the 
tree,  when  the  house  moves  off  the  foundation  it  maj 
swing  against  the  tree,  and  our  ruin  will  be  inevitable." 
His  sister  replied,  "I  think  if  we  remain  our  destruc- 
tion is  certain,  for  when  the  mill  is  swept  off  the  foun- 
dation it  will  fall  on  its  side  and  plunge  us  into  the 
water  before  we  can  escape  from  this  room.  For  my 
sake,  my  dear  brother,  do  let  us  go  out  on  the  tree;  by 
this  means  our  lives  may  yet  be  spared."     Thanks  be  to 


S18  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT 

God,  she  at  length  prevailed.  He  then  opened  the  roof 
close  to  the  tree,  took  the  cords  from  his  bed  and  went 
out  on  a  limb  of  the  tree,  and  made  it  fast  to  the  main 
trunk.  He  then  took  his  sister  and  tied  the  cord 
around  her  body,  under  her  arms,  and  easily  succeeded 
in  lashing  her  fast  to  the  limbs  of  the  tree.  He  then 
took  another  cord  and  tied  himself  fast  to  the  main  body 
of  the  same  tree,  near  to  his  beloved  sister.  It  was  only 
a  few  minutes  after  they  had  made  their  escape  from  the 
house  before  it  was  raised  from  its  foundation  by  the  vio- 
lence of  the  waters  and  dashed  into  a  thousand  fragments 
upon  the  rocks  below.  In  this  exposed  and  perilous  situa- 
tion they  remained  all  night,  while  the  brave  old  tree 
waved  to  and  fro  when  struck  by  the  surging  waves  and 
drift-wood,  occasionally  drenching  their  feet  in  the  angry 
l  waters.  Every  moment  they  expected  to  be  submerged 
in  the  turbid  flood  or  dashed  to  pieces  on  the  rocks 
below.  0  how  dark  and  cheerless  would  their  situation 
have  been  but  for  the  cheering  words  of  Him  who  can 
still  the  tempest  and  hush  its  roar !  While  thus  waiting 
to  pass  the  "awful  flood," 

"When  every  scene  of  life 
Stands  ready  to  depart," 

the  eye  of  faith  pierces  beyond  the  darkness  that  sur- 
rounds the  entrance  to  the  grave,  and  enables  the  Chris- 
tian to  sing, 

-to* 

"When  tempest  clouds  are  dark  on  high, 
His  bow  of  love  and  peace 
Shines  sweetly  in  the  vaulted  sky, 
A  pledge  that  storms  shall  cease." 

When  the  morning  dawned  their  friends  and  neigh- 
bors rushed  to  the  bank  of  the  stream,  but  could  not 
afford  them  any  relief;  but  God  was  their  refuge,  and 
suffered  no  harm  to  befall  them.     The  alarm  was  given, 


A    WORD    IN    SEASON.  319 

and  kind-hearted  persons  from  the  surrounding  country- 
rushed  to  the  rescue;  but  till  the  angry  waters  began  to 
subside  nothing  was  accomplished.  Their  friends  about 
one  o'clock  in  the  day  effected  their  deliverance  by  cut- 
ting down  a  number  of  large  trees  above  the  mill,  let- 
ting them  float  down  near  the  one  to  which  the  unfortunate 
sufferers  had  lashed  themselves.  In  this  way  a  bridge 
was  formed,  which  extended  across  the  stream  to  the 
shore.  Over  this,  by  the  aid  of  ropes,  the  brother  and 
his  sister  passed  in  perfect  safety.  Overcome  by  fatigue 
and  excitement  they  sank  down  at  the  feet  of  their 
deliverers;  but  as  soon  as  they  recovered  from  their 
exhaustion  they  arose  and  fell  upon  the  necks  of  those 
who  had  effected  their  rescue,  wept  aloud,  and  kissed 
them,  and  exclaimed,  "  We  are  saved!  we  are  saved! 
we  are  saved!  0,  how  shall  we  ever  be  sufficiently 
thankful  to  our  kind  deliverers  I" 


CHAPTER    XLVIII. 

A    WORD    IN    SEASON. 

Before  taking  my  departure  from  the  Sweet  Springs  I 
felt  it  deeply  impressed  on  my  mind  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
to  have  personal  conversation  with  my  dear  friend  from 
Ohio,  Mr.  J.  T.  I  often  fixed  a  time  in  my  own  mind 
when  I  would  introduce  the  subject,  but  when  that  time 
arrived  something  always  intervened,  or  I  had  not  courage 
to  carry  my  good  design  into  execution.  We  often  walked 
in  the  grove  and  roved  through  the  wild  wood  in  com- 
pany, and  yet  I  could  not  "bear  my  cross"  and  discharge 
so  plain  a  duty.  I  prayed  for  him  when  in  my  room,  and 
my  interest  increased  in  his  behalf  every  day.  He  was 
just  such  a  young  man  as  Christ  once  "loved"  when  he 


320  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

said,  "Yetlackest  thou  one  thing."  At  length,  the  time 
drew  near  for  my  return  to  Ohio,  and  I  resolved  not  to  go 
till  I  had  discharged  my  duty.  Satan  raised  a  thousand 
objections,  but  I  triumphed  by  faith.  On  the  day  before 
I  left  I  walked  with  Mr.  T.  up  on  the  mountain-side  to 
the  "strangers'  burial-ground."  On  our  return  from  that 
lonely  place  I  took  his  arm  in  mine  and  affectionately 
urged  him  to  embrace  the  Savior.  His  heart  melted,  and 
he  assured  me  that  he  had  resolved  to  lead  a  new  life.  I 
reminded  him  of  the  uncertainty  of  life  and  the  proba- 
bility that  he  might  not  recover,  and  the  great  import- 
ance of  "having  on  the  wedding  garment."  I  then  said, 
"I  shall  bid  you  adieu  to-morrow,  and  I  hope  when  I  hear 
from  you  again  that  you  will  be  able  to  say,  ll  have 
found  him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law  and  the  prophets 
did  write/"  No  language  can  describe  the  inward  satis- 
faction I  felt  that  night  after  taking  up  one  of  the  heaviest 
crosses  that  I  ever  bore.  But,  0  the  rich  reward  that 
followed  in  the  comforts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  compensated 
me  more  than  a  hundred  fold.  The  next  morning,  when 
I  got  ready  to  start,  Mr.  T.  took  a  seat  in  my  buggy  and 
rode  a  mile  or  two  down  the  road.  We  both  wept  at 
parting,  and  I  said  to  him,  "G-ood-by,  God  bless  you, 
Mr.  T.  I  hope  by  your  remaining  here  to  drink  of  these 
waters,  your  physical  health  may  be  entirely  restored ; 
but,  above  all,  I  wish  you  spiritual  health,  and  I  hope  be- 
fore you  return  home  you  may  be  permitted  to  drink  of 
the  '  water  of  life,  and  thirst  no  more.3  I  returned  to 
Ohio,  but  whenever  I  thought  of  the  invalid,  Mr.  T., 
whom  I  left  at  the  Springs,  I  prayed  for  his  salvation. 

Can  you  imagine,  dear  reader,  the  joy  of  my  heart  on 
the  receipt  of  the  following  intelligence,  communicated 
by  Rev.  S.  B.,  of  Lewisburg,  Va.,  in  a  letter  dated  Octo- 
ber 28, 1842 : 

"The   two   camp  meetings,   of  which   you    heard   me 


A    WORD    IN    SEASON.  321 

speak  while  here,  were  seasons  of  great  comfort  to  many 
of  us.  I  also  attended  a  camp  meeting  on  Monroe  cir- 
cuit, where  seventy-five  souls  were  soundly  converted. 
Since  our  two  camp  meetings  the  work  goes  on  finely. 
Several  hundred  have  been  converted.  About  two  weeks 
ago,  while  attending  a  protracted  meeting  at  Covington,  I 
witnessed  the  conversion  of  Mr.  J.  T.,  from  Ohio,  who  is 
now  staying  at  a  brother-in-law's.  I  was  an  eye-witness 
to  his  struggles  at  the  mourners'  bench.  His  conver- 
sion was  rational  and  glorious.  He  spoke  much  of  you — 
said  he  had  met  you  at  the  Springs,  and  wished  me  to 
write  and  inform  you  of  his  happy  conversion.  He  united 
with  our  Church,  and  was  baptized  by  Rev.  B.  H.  Nadal." 

I  wept  like  a  child  when  I  received  this  soul-cheering 
intelligence.  But  I  hasten  to  let  this  young  man  relate 
his  own  story,  how  God  at  last  brought  him  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  truth : 

"Z le,  August,  1843. 

"Beloved  Christian  Brother, — Your  very  welcome 
letter  came  to  hand  some  two  or  three  days  since.  I  was 
truly  gratified  on  hearing  from  one  who  occupies  so  large  a 
place  in  my  pleasant  recollections.  Within  the  last  few 
months  my  memory  has  frequently  carried  me  back  to 
the  many  pleasant  hours  that  I  spent  last  summer  on  the 
vine-clad  hills  of  my  old  native  state;  and  not  unfre- 
quently  does  the  name  of  my  friend  and  brother,  Rev. 
Maxwell  P.  Gaddis,  associate  itself  with  those  pleasant 
thoughts.  Truly  did  I  enjoy  your  society  then,  but  0, 
how  much  better  should  I  have  enjoyed  it  could  I  have 
called  you  brother,  as  I  can  now,  through  the  grace  of 
Him  who  hath  loved  us  and  given  himself  a  ransom  to 
redeem  us !  l  Cast  your  bread  upon  the  waters/  my 
brother,  'and  after  many  days  it  will  be  gathered  again/ 
saith  the  word  of  our  God.  The  few  words  we  had  upon 
th*  subject  of  religion  were  not  without  their  effect  upon 


322        FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

my  heart.     I  had  always  admired  the  Christian  character, 
but  the  world  had  a  strong  hold  upon  my  affections.     I 
had  strayed  far  in  forbidden  paths.     God,  in  mercy,  laid 
his  afflicting  hand  upon  me.     I  had  to  give  up  all  thought 
of   business.     I  sought  to  repair  my  loss  of  health  by 
returning  to   my  native   land,  where  I   could  forget  the 
cares  of  business   and   attend  alone  to  the  reparation  of 
my  health.     I  was  there  associated  with  pious  friends  and 
had  much  time   for  reading  and  reflection.     I  followed 
their  good   suggestion,  and  read  most  religious  works — 
among  which  were  Carvosso,  J.  B.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Rogers, 
and  Mrs.  Fletcher.     My  admiration  of  the  Christian  char- 
acter was  greatly  increased  thereby,  and  I  began  seriously 
to  reflect  upon  the  subject  of  the  salvation  of  my  soul. 
I  commenced   closet  devotion,  and  read  the  Bible  more 
closely.     I  made  but  little  progress.     I  then  began  to  be 
anxious  to  converse  with  religious  persons  on  that  subject, 
and  would  have  gladly  conversed  more  with  you,  but  I  felt 
a  backwardness  that  I  could  not  well  overcome.     In  a  few 
days  after  we  parted  I  left  the  Sweet  Springs  for  Coving- 
ton, and  from  there  I  went  to  the  Hot  Springs,  but  re- 
ceived no  benefit.     I  resolved  to  return  to  the   Sweet 
Springs,  and  staid  several  weeks,  and  my  health  gradu- 
ally improved.     This  was  a  good  providence,  for  I  was 
thereby  detained  till  late  in  October.     This  gave  me  an 
opportunity  of  attending  the  quarterly  meeting  at  Cov- 
ington,  among  my  relatives.     Through  the  instrument- 
ality of  a  beloved  sister  I  was  induced  to  take  the  good 
old-fashioned  Methodist   way  of  getting  religion.     I  went 
to  the  altar  at  morning  meeting,  and  spent  about  an  hour 
there;  and  in  the  afternoon,  about  four  o'clock,  I  com- 
menced  the  work   again  at  my  dear  sister's  house;  and 
ere  the  natural  sun  disappeared  below  the  horizon,  where 
once  all  was  gloom  and  darkness,  the  heavenly  light  broke 
in  upon  my  soul,  and  my  mouth  was  filled  with  praises  to 


CONFERENCE  AT  HAMILTON.      323 

the  God  of  Israel.  I  am  traveling  a  new  path  for  me, 
and  although  gloom  and  darkness  sometimes  take  hold 
upon  me  in  consequence  of  my  unfaithfulness,  yet  there 
is  a  peace  ivithin  that  still  remains.  I  was  pained  to  learn 
your  health  was  still  feeble.  I  can  sympathize  with  you. 
Since  my  return  to  Ohio  I  have  suffered  much.  I  am 
now  confined  to  the  house  nearly  all  the  time.  Write 
soon,  and  write  long.  0,  do  not  make  it  shorter  than 
mine.  I  need  good  advice.  I  shall  always  be  pleased  to 
hear  from  you,  and  should  have  proposed  a  correspond- 
ence with  you  when  we  parted  at  the  Springs  in  Virginia. 
I  felt but  I  have  got  rid  of  a  good  deal  of  my  fool- 
ish pride.         I  remain  sincerely  yours,  J.  T." 


CHAPTER    XLIX. 

CONFERENCE     AT     HAMILTON  —  SUPERAN- 
NUATION. 

On  my  return  from  Virginia  I  settled  up  my  business 
with  the  Board  of  Trustees  at  Worthington,  and  started 
to  Hamilton,  Ohio,  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Ohio  con- 
ference. A  gentleman,  and  a  member  of  another  Church, 
had  given  his  "note"  to  Rev.  Joseph  M.  Trimble,  D.  D., 
at  Columbus,  for  the  full  amount  of  my  salary,  if  the 
conference  would  send  me  to  that  city  the  next  year. 
William  Neil,  Esq.,  had  also  given  us  the  promise  of  a  lot 
on  which  to  build  a  new  church.  Bishop  Morris  has 
since  informed  me  that  he  made  the  appointment  at  an 
early  period  of  the  session ;  but  one  or  two  days  before 
conference  adjourned,  the  late  Rev.  William  H.  Raper,  at 
a  time  when  I  was  absent  from  the  conference-room,  and 
without  my  knowledge  or  consent,  proposed  to  the  confer- 
ence to  grant  me  a  superannuated  relation  for  one  year, 


324         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

and  requested  me  to  go  to  the  south  for  the  benefit  of 
my  health.  It  was  almost  instantly  carried  by  a  unani- 
mous vote,  and  I  was  soon  informed  of  the  fact.  I  do 
not  know  that  I  ever  felt  as  deeply  afflicted  by  any  occur- 
rence in  my  whole  ministerial  career.  I  was  at  first  un- 
willing to  submit  to  the  action  of  the  conference,  although 
I  was  fully  satisfied  of  the  kind  motives  which  prompted 
brother  Raper  to  make  the  motion,  and  my  brethren  so 
ready  to  respond  to  it  in  such  a  cordial  and  hearty  man- 
ner. I  wept  like  a  child.  I  could  not  endure  the  idea 
of  departing  from  the  regular  work,  although  my  health 
was  so  much  impaired;  but  my  best  friends  all  urged  me 
to  acquiesce  in  the  matter,  and  comply  with  the  wish  of 
the  conference,  to  go  and  spend  the  winter  at  the  south. 
To  this  arrangement  I  finally  agreed  with  much  reluctance. 
On  my  return  to  Cincinnati  I  received  a  letter  from 
my  brother  David,  at  Ripley,  requesting  me  to  come  up 
immediately  and  preach  for  them  a  few  days.  Some  were 
seeking  the  Savior,  and  there  were  signs  of  a  g°neral 
revival  of  the  work  of  God.  I  showed  this  letter  to 
Bishop  Hamline,  who  was  then  engaged  in  editing  the 
Ladies'  Repository,  and  requested  him  to  go  with  me. 
We  took  the  packet  the  next  day  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M., 
and  arrived  at  Ripley  soon  after  the  commencement  of 
the  evening  service.  That  evening  souls  were  converted 
to  God,  and  the  work  of  conviction  greatly  increased. 
The  next  day  the  Lord  made  bare  his  holy  arm  in  the 
sight  of  all  the  people.  The  altar  was  crowded  with 
penitents,  and  more  than  a  score  found  peace  in  believ- 
ing on  Christ.  I  never  heard  Bishop  Hamline  preach 
with  such  power  as  he  did  during  the  progress  of  that 
meeting.  Many  will  rise  up  at  the  last  day  to  call  him 
u  blessed  of  the  Lord."  I  remained  there,  laboring  day 
and  night,  till  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  were  added  to 
the  fold  of  Christ. 


WESLEYAN    FEMALE    COLLEGE.  325 

On  my  return  to  Cincinnati  the  Board  of  Trustees 
elected  me  to  act  as  their  agent  in  behalf  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  Female  College;  and  I  cordially  agreed  to  assist 
them  in  carrying  forward  their  noble  educational  enter- 
prise. But  I  soon  became  unhappy.  I  had  done  enough 
of  that  kind  of  labor  the  previous  year.  I  had  no  heart 
left  for  the  work.  I  panted  daily  to  see  souls  converted 
to  God  and  the  borders  of  Zion  enlarged.  This,  I  be- 
lieved, was  my  appropriate  work,  and  I  soon  respectfully 
resigned  my  commission. 

Rev.  Charles  Elliott,  D.  D.,  who  is  always  devising 
noble  plans  for  the  enlargement  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom, proposed  to  join  me  in  building  a  mission  church 
on  the  lot  where  Christie  Chapel  now  stands.  Bishop 
Hamline  wrote  the  subscription,  and  gave  a  liberal  dona- 
tion himself,  and  in  a  few  days  I  had  the  pledge  of  more 
than  one  thousand  dollars.  Doctor  Elliott  had  agreed  to 
preach  on  the  next  Sabbath,  and  had  written  an  editorial 
on  the  subject  for  the  Advocate.  The  whole  scheme  was 
defeated,  however,  by  the  unwillingness  of  one  of  the 
charges  to  relinquish  their  claim  upon  the  "old  grave- 
yard lot,"  at  that  time  erroneously  imagining  that  the 
erection  of  another  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  that 
latitude  would  almost  break  up  their  own  congregation. 
It  was  now  the  middle  of  December.  I  was  paying  for 
my  board,  and  had  no  place  to  preach,  and  no  income.  I 
knew  not  what  to  do.  The  winter  was  setting  in  bleak 
and  stormy,  and  my  health  very  bad;  yet  I  preached 
almost  every  Sabbath,  and  sometimes  during  the  week. 
My  friends  in  the  city  finally  prevailed  on  me  to  go  south. 
I  made  my  arrangements,  and  embarked  for  Louisville 
about  the  20th  of  December,  1842.  Bless  the  Lord,  0 
my  soul,  that  amid  all  these  outward  trials  and  unexpect- 
ed scenes  of  disappointment,  I  had  internal  quiet — a  fixed 
state  of  mind,  that  nothing  could  disturb. 


326  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

CHAPTER  L. 

THE     SUNNY    SOUTH. 

Thursday,  December  22,  1842.— I  left  the  Queen  City 
on  board  the  steamer  Scioto  Belle,  quite  indisposed.  On 
arriving  at  Louisville  I  was  quite  too  unwell  to  proceed 
on  my  journey.  I  was  very  kindly  received  and  enter- 
tained in  the  family  of  Rev.  H.  H.  Kavanaugh,  the 
stationed  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Brook-street,  and  now  one  of  the  bishops  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  South.  For  more  than  five 
days  I  was  confined  to  my  bed,  and  suffered  most  ex- 
quisite pain  for  a  period  of  more  than  forty-eight  hours 
from  an  abscess  on  my  throat;  but  by  proper  and  timely 
medical  aid  and  good  nursing  by  sister  Kavanaugh,  and 
especially  the  blessing  of  God,  I  so  far  recovered  as  to 
be  able  to  resume  my  southern  trip.  This  affliction  was 
made  a  blessing  to  my  soul,  and  had  a  tendency  to  wean 
me  more  from  this  vain  and  sinful  world. 

At  Shippingsport  in  the  morning  I  accidentally  met 
the  Kentucky  giant,  James  Porter.  He  was  seven  feet 
eight  inches  in  hight  and  tolerably  well  proportioned. 
In  early  life  he  learned  the  "  cooper's  trade,"  but  was 
engaged  in  keeping  a  small  grocery  store,  and  also  in 
running  a  hack  between  that  place  and  Louisville.  His 
chair  was  three  feet  high,  and  standing  behind  the 
counter  was  a  highly-ornamental  rifle  eight  feet  long. 
I  conversed  for  some  time  with  the  "  giant,"  and  learned 
from  him  that  his  father  was  deceased,  but  that  his 
mother  was  still  living,  and  resided  not  far  from  him 
in  the  village  of  Shippingsport,  below  the  falls.  His 
father  and  mother  were  of  ordinary  stature,  and  so  were 
his  brothers  and  sisters.     As  I  looked  upon  this  human 


THE    SUNNY    SOUTH.  327 

prodigy  I  thought  of  Goliah,  whose  hight  was  six  cubits 
and  a  span,  whose  spear  was  like  a  weaver's  beam,  the 
head  of  which  weighed  six  hundred  shekels  of  iron. 
And  I  remember  the  prophet  Samuel's  account  of  four 
others  "  who  were  born  to  the  giant,  and  fell  by  the  hand 
of  David  and  by  the  hand  of  his  servants/7  one  of 
whom  "  was  a  man  of  great  stature,  and  had  on  each 
hand  six  fingers,  and  on  each  foot  six  toes — four  and 
twenty  in  number." 

We  are  now  fully  under  way,  but  moving  very  slowly, 
on  account  of  the  ice.  For  other  incidents  connected 
with  my  journey  I  refer  the  reader  to  my  diary  kept  at 
the  time. 

Tuesday,  December  27. — Weather  warm,  raining  fast, 
and  the  ice  nearly  all  gone.  Health  improving.  Thanks 
be  to  God  for  his  great  goodness  and  merciful  kindness 
to  his  servant!  I  feel  that  all  is  peace.  God  protects 
on  the  deep  waters  as  in  the  city  full  or  vast  wilderness 

"Jesus  protects,  my  fears  begone! 
What  can  the  Rock  of  Ages  move?" 

Wednesday,  December  28. — We  are  now  lying  at  the 
"Cave  in  the  Kock;"  we  have  been  aground  more  than 
fifteen  hours.  Time  passes  pleasantly  away.  The  pas- 
sengers are  generally  moral,  and  some  few  of  them  re- 
ligious. Fine  time  for  meditation  and  prayer.  0  that 
God  may  aid  me  by  his  Holy  Spirit  to  grow  in  grace 
every  day  during  my  journey  to  the  south! 

Friday,  December  30. — Passed  Cairo,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Ohio  river,  last  night  about  dark.  Weather  cold 
and  stormy;  snow  falling  fast.  We  are  now  about  forty 
miles  above  Memphis;  boat  runs  intolerably  slow;  pas- 
sengers getting  very  restless;  many  of  them  homesick; 
lost  all  hope  of  spending  New-Year's  at  the  Crescent 
City.  It  was  very  dark  and  stormy  as  our  boat  glided 
into  the  Mississippi,  and  many  felt  much  alarmed  for 


328  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

fear  we  should  strike  some  heavy  drift-wood  and  sink  to 
the  bottom.  I  walked  into  the  ladies'  cabin,  and  found 
an  intelligent  lady  crying  most  bitterly.  I  learned  the 
cause  of  her  distress  arose  from  an  apprehension  that 
our  boat  would  be  wrecked  during  the  darkness  of  the 
night.  I  exhorted  her  to  trust  in  God,  and  bade  her 
good-night  and  retired  to  my  berth.  Before  I  laid  down 
I  read  a  portion  of  Scripture,  and  committed  soul  and 
body  unto  the  hands  of  my  heavenly  Father.  I  did  not 
awake  till  the  sun  was  shining  upon  the  turbid  waters. 
After  breakfast  I  went  into  the  ladies'  cabin  to  see  my 
distressed  friend.  She  informed  me  that  she  kept  her 
right  hand  upon  her  "  life-preserver "  and  kept  awake 
till  the  dawn  of  morning.  "0,"  said  she,  "I  wish  I 
was  a  Christian,  and  could  be  delivered  from  the  fear  of 
death  and  the  grave."  I  told  her  that  one  object  of 
the  death  of  Christ  was  to  destroy  the  power  of  death — 
take  away  its  sting — and  "deliver  them  who  through 
fear  of  death  were  all  their  lifetime  subject  to  bond- 
age." I  hope  our  conversation  was  not  in  vain.  I  am 
now  calm  and  peaceful,  and  have  been  somewhat  re- 
freshed in  waiting  upon  God  in  secret.  I  long  for  com- 
munion with  the  people  of  God  in  his  sanctuary. 

December  31. — This  is  the  last  of  the  year;  I  now 
write  1842  for  the  last  time  in  my  journal.  How  differ- 
ent my  present  situation  from  what  it  was  at  this  hour 
twelve  months  ago !  Then  at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  in  the 
midst  of  a  most  powerful  revival  of  religion;  now  be- 
tween Memphis  and  Vicksburg,  directly  opposite  an  is- 
land where  a  number  of  "gamblers"  found  a  watery 
grave  not  long  since!  Well,  be  it  so.  Even  here  on 
the  water  I  can  worship  God  and  hold  sweet  fellowship 
with  his  Son.  In  looking  over  the  past  year  I  find 
great  cause  for  devout  thankfulness  as  well  as  deep  and 
unfeigned  humility.     The  Lord  has  been  better  to  me 


THE    SUNNY    SOUTH.  3Zy 

than  all  my  fears.  He  hath  brought  me  out  of  sore 
troubles.  "My  soul  has  escaped  as  a  bird  from  the 
snare  of  the  fowler/'  I  have  spent  the  greater  portion 
of  the  year  in  traveling,  as  the  Agent  of  Worthington 
Female  Seminary  and  Parkersburg  Academy,  in  western 
Virginia.  I  want  to  be  holy  ;  I  will  seek  it  by  day  and 
night.  I  know  it  is  my  privilege  to  be  cleansed  from 
all  sin.  This  day  I  feel  the  Lord  precious.  Whether 
at  home  or  abroad,  on  land  or  water,  Jesus  can  make 

"December  a*  pleasant  as  May." 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  our  God  forever ! 

"  Here,  then,  my  God,  vouchsafe  to  stay, 
And  bid  my  heart  rejoice ; 
My  bounding  heart  shall  own  thy  sway, 
And  echo  to  thy  voice." 

January  1,  1843. — This  has  been  a  day  of  great  com- 
fort and  peace  to  my  soul.  While  calling  to  remem- 
brance the  goodness  of  God  my  heart  has  been  deeply 
affected.  I  have  again  renewed  my  covenant;  I  am  re- 
solved to  devote  myself  more  fully  to  God,  and  labor 
more  faithfully  in  his  vineyard.  This  is  a  beautiful 
Sabbath  evening.  The  new  year  broke  upon  my  vision 
in  a  milder  climate  and  beneath  a  serener  sky  than  I 
have  ever  seen  before.  We  have  now  shaken  hands 
with  a  cheerless  northern  winter,  and  are  traveling  rap- 
idly onward  to  the  land  of  sunny  smiles.  The  new  year! 
the  past  with  its  sunlight  and  shade  rushed  upon  my 
mind.  The  pleasure  of  dwelling  upon  the  past — in  call- 
ing to  mind  hallowed  associations,  endearing  friendships, 
and  sweet  communion  with  kindred  spirits — what  pen 
can  portray?  Early  in  the  morning  of  that  memorable 
day  the  following  note  was  handed  me  by  one  of  the  gen- 
tleman passengers : 

"Rev.  Maxwell  P.  Gaddis — Dear  Sir, — It  is  the 
united  wish  of  the  passengers  of  the  Scioto  Valley  that 
28 


380  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

we  should  have  divine  service  on  board  to-day,  and,  if 
consistent  with  your  feelings  and  the  state  of  your 
health,  we  should  feel  ourselves  gratified  by  hearing  a 
sermon  from  you. 

"Yours,  most  respectfully, 

"Signed,  ." 

To  this  note  were  appended  the  names  of  all  the  gen- 
tleman and  lady  passengers  with  the  exception  of  four, 
who  were  Roman  Catholics — three  of  whom  were  "  sis- 
ters of  charity." (?)  I  very  cordially  accepted  the  polite 
invitation,  and  improved  the  interesting  occasion  by 
preaching  them  a  Xew- Year's  sermon  at  eleven  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  in  the  ladies'  cabin.  "Cast  thy  bread  upon  the 
waters,  and  thou  shalt  gather  it  after  many  days."  We 
are  now  about  thirty  miles  above  Vicksburg.  I  pray  God 
to  make  me  useful  wherever  I  go. 

January  4. — Arrived  in  the  Crescent  City  this  morning 
at  nine  o'clock.  This  at  present  is  the  great  business 
mart  for  North  America.  The  levee  presents  a  mingled 
picture  of  light  and  dark  shades.  The  shipping  and 
majestic  steamers  present  an  imposing  appearance  to 
the  eye  of  the  stranger.  I  have  no  language  to  describe 
my  emotions  on  first  entering  this  port.  My  first  busi- 
ness, however,  was  to  retire  in  secret,  and  return  my 
humble  thanks  to  almighty  God  for  preserving  my 
health,  and  protecting  me  from  danger  and  accident  dur- 
ing my  long  and  tedious  journey  from  the  Queen  City  of 
the  west. 

I  have  met  a  kind  reception,  and  am  now  staying  at 
the  house  of  Rev.  Mr.  Curtis,  a  local  preacher,  whose 
residence  is  opposite  Enunciation  Square.  The  weather 
is  as  warm  here  now  as  some  of  our  summer  days  in 
Ohio.  I  sleep  under  a  musketoe-bar  at  night.  What 
a  transition,  from  the  ice-bound  shores  of  the  Ohio  to 
this  congenial,  sunlight  clime !     I  hope  my  visit  will  be 


THE    SUNNY    SOUTH.  331 

pleasant  if  not  advantageous  to  my  health.     The  Lord 
is  still  better  to  me  than  my  foolish  fears. 

"  His  hand  my  drooping  head  sustains." 

" Great  peace  have  they  that  love  thy  law,  and  nothing 
shall  offend  them." 

I  trust,  should  my  life  be  spared,  to  make  greater 
proficiency  in  my  studies  this  year  than  last,  and  rise  to 
greater  nights  in  holiness  and  Christian  enjoyment. 

"  'Tis  there,  with  the  lambs  of  thy  flock, 
There  only  I  covet  to  rest ; 
To  lie  at  the  foot  of  the  rock, 
Or  rise  to  be  hid  in  thy  breast. 

'Tis  there  I  would  always  abide, 

And  never  a  moment  depart, 
Concealed  in  the  cleft  of  thy  side, 

Eternally  held  in  thy  heart." 

January  8. — This  has  been  my  first  Sabbath  in  New 
Orleans;  I  am  now  left  alone  to  reflect  upon  its  pleasing 
and  afllicting  scenes.  The  morning  was  bright,  followed 
by  a  lovely,  smiling  day,  peculiar  to  this  southern  clime. 
It  was  favorable  for  the  devout  and  pious  portion  of  the 
community  to  repair  to  the  temples  of  the  God  of 
Jacob,  "whither  the  tribes  go  up,  the  tribes  of  the  Lord, 
unto  the  testimony  of  Israel,  to  give  thanks  unto  the 
name  of  the  Lord/'  In  company  with  brother  Curtis 
and  Rev.  W.  Nicholson,  pastor,  I  repaired  to  the  Poy- 
drass-Street  Church.  This  is  a  most  splendid  edifice, 
of  the  Grecian  and  Doric  order,  the  details  of  which 
are  copied  from  the  temple  of  Theseus,  at  Athens.  The 
hight  of  the  steeple  is  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet. 
The  entire  building  combines  a  beauty  and  novel  grand- 
eur to  be  seen  in  no  other  church  edifice  about  the  city. 
Here  I  tried  to  preach  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  from 
these  words,  "  They  overcame  him  by  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb  and  the  word  of  their  testimony,"  etc.     Revela- 


332  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT 

tion  xii,  11.  I  had  but  little  comfort,  because  of  the 
tumult  in  the  streets  without.  It  was  the  8th  of  Jan- 
uary, a  day  memorable  in  our  political  history,  and  was 
most  generally  observed  throughout  the  city  as  a  day 
of  great  festivity  and  mirth.  At  three  o'clock  we  as- 
sembled at  the  same  place  to  administer  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  supper.  While  thus  engaged  a  military 
company  passed  the  door  of  the  church,  and  a  portion 
of  the  audience  retired  to  the  lobby  to  witness  the  pro- 
cession. A  brisk  cannonade  was  kept  up  in  Lafayette 
Square,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the  communicants. 
Rev.  Mr.  Curtis  being  the  oldest  minister  present,  was 
called  upon  to  consecrate  the  elements.  After  partaking 
of  the  bread  and  passing  it  over  to  brother  Nicholson 
and  myself,  he  became  so  confused  or  absent-minded, 
that  he  arose  from  his  knees  before  passing  round  the 
wine-cup.  I  can  not  express  the  deep  feelings  of  my 
heart  on  this  painful  occasion.  In  this  wicked  city 
"the  ways  of  Zion  do  mourn,  and  few  come  up  to  her 
solemn  feast."  Till  very  recently  there  has  been  almost 
a  total  disregard  for  the  holy  Sabbath.  "This  memora- 
ble and  eventful  day — January  8th — was  commemorated 
with  a  spirit  of  enthusiasm  plainly  indicating  the  patri- 
otic remembrance  with  which  the  deeds  of  noble  daring 
that  signalized  it  are  cherished.  At  an  early  hour  the 
ear-piercing  fife  and  spirit-stirring  drum  summoned  the 
military  department  to  their  duty.  Prompt  in  peace, 
and,  we  are  equally  assured,  prompt  in  times  of  war, 
the  well-disciplined  and  martial  band  who  constitute  the 
legion  and  battalion  sallied  forth  to  celebrate,  in  a  be- 
coming manner,  an  event  that  shines  conspicuously,  in- 
deed, pre-eminently,  in  the  bright  galaxy  of  military 
achievements  won  by  American  valor.  It  was  a  day 
of  pride,  rejoicing,  and  thanksgiving.  The  associations 
connected  with  the    'glorious   eighth/    revived    by  the 


THE    SUNNY    SOUTH.  333 

brilliant  celebration  of  to-day,  should  excite  the  liveliest 
emotions.  The  heart  of  every  Louisianian  should  bound 
and  leap  with  joy  at  the  annual  recurrence  of  a  period 
that  rescued  from  a  rude,  plundering  soldiery,  female 
chastity  and  all  the  blessings  that  attach  to  and  ennoble 
the  human  race.  The  charm  of  British  invincibility 
was  dissolved  on  that  occasion,  and  the  star  spangled 
banner  of  freedom's  advocates  floated  in  triumph  over 
the  plains  of  Chalmette.  Throughout  the  city  a  spirit 
of  animation  prevailed,  occupations  ceased,  houses  were 
closed,  in  fact  there  was  a  general  stop  of  proceedings 
for  a  full  and  unmixed  enjoyment  of  the  anniversary. 
The  military  were  in  order  from  'top  to  toe/  and  the 
various  societies  that  joined  in  the  unanimous  melee  of 
congratulation  and  rejoicing  presented  a  'perfect  ju- 
bilee."' There  is  no  law  in  that  state  to  prevent  "mili- 
tary parades,"  "target-shooting,"  "horse-racing,"  or  the- 
ater-going on  the  Sabbath.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
out  of  a  winter  population  of  more  than  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  thousand  comparatively  few  attend  the 
house  of  God.  When  the  Sabbath  is  disregarded  re- 
ligion and  morality  die.  Man  forgets  God  and  God 
forsakes  man.  The  moral  world  becomes  a  desert  waste, 
where  beauty  never  smiles.  The  illustrious  Washington 
was  a  strict  observer  of  the  Sabbath.  He  often  read 
the  Scriptures  and  prayed  with  his  regiment  on  that 
holy  day.  As  a  nation  we  can  not  prosper  if  we  trample 
on  the  Christian  Sabbath. 


334  TOOT- PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT 

CHAPTEK   LI. 

INCIDENTS    AT    NEW    ORLEANS    AND    MOBILE 

During  my  stay  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans  I  spent 
the  most  of  my  time  at  the  house  of  the  late  Harry  Hill, 
Esq.,  on  Canal-street.  I  heard  Rev.  William  Winans  and 
brother  Nicholson  preach  frequently.  I  witnessed  the 
inauguration  of  Governor  Mouton,  and  had  the  pleasure 
of  renewing  my  acquaintance  with  the  late  Henry  Clay, 
of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Clay,  at  that  time,  was  in  feeble 
health,  and  seemed  much  concerned  about  the  salvation 
of  his  soul.  I  saw  him  present  in  the  Methodist  Church 
during  the  delivery  of  a  most  eloquent  sermon  by  Rev. 
W.  Nicholson.  A  gentleman,  who  was  not  a  professor  of 
religion,  related  to  me  a  very  interesting  conversation  be- 
tween Mr.  Clay  and  Rev.  Mr.  Clapp,  at  a  dinner  party,  on 
the  subject  of  experimental  religion.  Mr.  Clay  at  last 
inquired  of  this  erratic  divine,  if  he  believed  in  "  con- 
version," or  the  possibility  of  obtaining,  in  this  life,  a 
knowledge,  a  satisfactory  assurance,  that  we  were  in  the 
favor  of  God.  In  reply,  Mr.  Clapp  said,  "When  quite 
young  I  thought  I  experienced  such  a  change,  but  my 
subsequent  life  has  convinced  me  that  I  was  mistaken.  I 
do  not  believe  or  preach  that  doctrine  now.  I  think  all 
that  God  requires  of  us  is  simply  to  give  our  assent  to  his 
word,  and  believe  in  Christ  as  the  Messiah — to  give  full 
credence  to  the  'sure  word  of  testimony.'"  Mr.  Clay 
answered,  "  Although  I  do  not  profess  to  have  experi- 
enced this  remarkable  transformation,  yet  I  .have  always 
entertained  a  very  different  opinion  altogether  from 
yours.  To  make  you  understand  my  meaning  I  will  illus- 
trate it  in  a  very  simple  manner.  For  many  years  past  I 
have  fully  believed  that  such  a  man  as  Rev.  Mr.  Clapp 


INCIDENTS    AT   NEW    ORLEANS  335 

existed — that  you  exercised  the  office  of  the  ministry  in 
the  city  of  New  Orleans;"  and  he  laid  his  hand  on  the 
minister's  shoulders  and  continued,  "but  I  have  much 
stronger  evidence  now  than  I  ever  had  before,  because  I 
feel  you  with  my  right  hand.  I  can  not  be  mistaken 
now — I  know  that  it  is  you,  Mr.  .  So  I  have  al- 
ways," said  Mr.  Clay,  "regarded  the  subject  of  religion; 
in  addition  to  the  testimony  of  which  you  speak,  I  believe 
that  it  is  our  privilege  to  have  the  sense  of  feeling.  This 
frees  the  mind  from  anxiety  and  doubt."  Here  the  con- 
versation ended,  and  the  whole  company  appeared  de- 
lighted to  hear  the  expression  of  such  sound  views  of 
theology  from  the  distinguished  senator  from  Kentucky. 
I  had  this  statement  from  an  intelligent  citizen,  a  man  of 
unimpeachable  veracity. 

I  recollect  an  amusing  incident  which  transpired  at  the 
inauguration  of  Governor  Mouton.  It  was  announced 
more  than  a  week  previous,  through  the  journals  of  the 
city,  that  Mr.  Clay  would  be  present  upon  that  interest- 
ing occasion.  Early  in  the  morning  the  streets  were 
thronged,  not  to  see  the  recently-elected  Governor,  but  to 
get  a  sight  of  the  great  statesman,  Henry  Clay,  who  was 
then  the  guest  of  the  city.  The  doors  were  guarded  by 
a  strong  military  force,  to  prevent  the  crowd  from  enter- 
ing before  the  arrival  of  the  Governor  and  his  suite — 
the  ladies  and  invited  guests  from  abroad.  Through  the 
kindness  of  a  friend  I  was  early  admitted  to  a  comforta- 
ble seat.  A  number  procured  boards  and  ladders,  and 
"climbed  up  some  other  way,"  and  made  their  ingress 
through  the  windows  in  the  rear  of  the  building.  It  was 
not  long  before  the  entrance  of  Mr.  Clay  that  I  discov- 
ered at  my  side,  standing  on  a  chair,  a  fine,  noble-looking 
native  Louisianian.  He  seemed  much  agitated,  and  his 
fine  forehead  bathed  in  a  most  profuse  perspiration.  His 
whole  manner  attracted  my  attention — when,  on  a  sudden, 


336         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

his  flashing  eye  met  my  steady  gaze.  He  then  stooped 
down  and  very  politely  asked  me  if  I  thought  Mr.  Clay 
would  soon  make  his  entrance.  I  replied,  "It  is  not  quite 
time  yet."  "Sir,"  said  he,  "are  you  a  citizen  of  this 
place?"  I  replied,  "No;  I  reside  in  Ohio."  "Was  you 
ever  in  the  state  of  Kentucky?"  quickly  inquired  my  ex- 
cited strange  friend.  I  replied,  "0  yes,  often;  I  am  at 
present  residing  in  Cincinnati."  "Did  you  ever  see  Mr. 
Clay?"  "0  yes,  frequently."  "0,  sir,"  he  replied, 
"you  are  a  highly-favored  man;  I  would  rather  look  upon 
his  face  than  any  man  in  the  universe.  Do  you  think  he 
will  certainly  be  here  this  morning?  I  would  not  miss 
seeing  him  now  for  half  of  my  plantation ;  I  rode  thirty 
miles  yesterday  afternoon  on  horseback,  in  order  to  be 
here  in  time  on  this  occasion."  At  that  moment  a  mes 
senger  announced  the  arrival  of  the  Governor,  and  the 
aisles  were  instantly  cleared.  He  soon  entered,  with  his 
attendants,  amid  demonstrations  of  a  hearty  welcome. 
In  a  few  moments  Mr.  Clay  made  his  appearance,  and  was 
received  with  deafening  shouts  of  applause  within  and 
without  the  spacious  hall.  My  friend  mounted  his  chair 
and  looked  on  him  with  a  steady  gaze  during  the  whole 
delivery  of  the  Governor's  message.  I  do  not  suppose  he 
heard  or  understood  one  word  of  it,  he  was  so  busily  en- 
gaged in  watching  Mr.  Clay.  At  the  close  he  turned 
around  and  remarked,  that  he  believed  "Henry  Clay  the 
greatest  man  God  ever  made,"  and  closed  by  saying,  "0, 
my  God,  if  he  does  not  go  to  heaven  when  he  dies  I  be- 
lieve I  do  not  want  to  go !  Farewell,  God  bless  you  !  I 
can  go  home  satisfied  now,  sir."  I  think  no  one  could 
doubt  either  his  sincerity  or  his  disinterested  admiration 
of  the  great  statesman;  but  I  confess  I  felt  then,  and  do 
now,  a  strong  desire  to  go  to  heaven,  whether  Mr.  Clay 
was  permitted  to  enter  that  happy  place  or  not. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  in  company  with  Rev.  E.  W. 


DEPARTURE  FROM  NEW  ORLEANS.    337 

Sehon,  my  former  colleague,  but  then  Agent  of  the 
American  Bible  Society,  I  left  New  Orleans,  and  took 
passage  on  the  mail-packet  "Fashion"  for  the  city  of 
Mobile.  The  "Fashion"  was  commanded  by  A.  Fuller- 
ton,  who  tendered  us  both  a  free  passage.  On  handing 
us  our  tickets  he  humorously  remarked,  "Gentlemen,  you 
go  free  unless  some  accident  should  occur,  for  you  know 
that  sailors  have  a  foolish  fear  of  a  storm  on  the  lake 
when  the  clergy  are  on  board  the  vessel."  I  was  delighted 
with  the  placid  appearance  of  Lake  Pontchartrain,  over 
which  we  glided  during  a  beautiful  day,  at  the  rate  of 
twenty  miles  an  hour.  The  next  morning,  however,  we 
were  tying  at  anchor  nearly  opposite  Cedar  Point.  Early 
in  the  forepart  of  the  day  we  entered  the  Gulf,  and  bat- 
tled bravely  till  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  when  the  boiler  arch 
gave  way,  and  the  boat  caught  fire.  This  produced  great 
consternation,  but  in  a  few  moments  the  flames  were  ex- 
tinguished, an  anchor  cast  out,  and  ail  was  quiet  again. 
A  storm  of  wind  and  rain  came  down  upon  us,  and  it  was 
necessary  to  cast  over  another  anchor;  but  still  we  drifted 
further  from  the  land.  All  hands  were  at  work  to  repair 
the  injury,  and  the  captain  and  ofdcers  assured  us  all 
would  soon  be  right  again.  But,  alas !  we  were  a  "  day 
and  night  in  the  deep,"  short  of  provisions,  and  in  immi- 
nent peril  every  hour.  We  had  on  board  twenty-five  gen- 
tlemen and  three  lady  passengers,  most  of  whom  wore 
sad  and  gloomy  faces,  and  a  few  cried  and  prayed  all  the 
time.  I  went  below  and  prayed  often  in  secret,  and  felt 
that  all  was  safe  at  the  command  of  Him 

"  Whose  voice  the  -winds  and  sea  ohey." 
The  captain  would  often  come  along  and  pleasantly  re- 
mark, "Gentlemen,  I  fear  there  is  a  Jonah  aboard.  I 
think  I  will  yet  have  to  make  you  pay  for  your  passage." 
We  reminded  him  of  Paul's  dangerous  voyage  to  Italy, 
when  an  "  angel  of  God  stood  by  him,"  and,  in  answer  to 
29 


338         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

his  prayer,  saved  the  passengers  and  crew — "all  that 
sailed  with  him."  Blessed  be  his  holy  name,  the  next 
morning  we  arrived  safe  in  the  port  of  Mobile.  The  first 
Sabbath  after  our  arrival  brother  Sehon  preached  a  dedi- 
cation sermon  in  the  new  church,  which  was  the  happiest 
effort  that  I  ever  heard  him  make.  The  sermon  was 
universally  admired,  and  was  followed  by  a  generous  col- 
lection. I  remained  in  Mobile  till  the  28th  of  April.  I 
had  the  privilege  of  preaching  often  myself,  and  of  hear- 
ing Rev.  L.  Pierce,  D.  D.,  frequently.  I  have  no  hesi- 
tancy in  saying  that  I  think  him  the  ablest  Methodist 
preacher  that  I  heard  in  the  south.  The  Sabbath  before 
my  departure  he  preached  a  most  powerful  discourse,  by 
request,  in  opposition  to  the  fanatical  notions  of  the  Mil- 
lerites.  The  text  was  taken  from  the  second  epistle  of 
Paul  to  the  Thessalonians,  second  chapter,  first  and 
second  verses:  "Xow  we  beseech  you,  brethren,  by  the 
coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by  our  gathering 
together  unto  him,  that  ye  be  not  soon  shaken  in  mind, 
or  be  troubled,  neither  by  spirit,  nor  by  word,  nor  by  let- 
ter as  from  us,  as  that  the  day  of  Christ  is  at  hand." 
This  eloquent  and  powerful  sermon  settled  the  minds  of 
many  "wavering  souls,"  and  no  doubt  saved  some  from 
losing  their  reason.  It  had  a  tendency  to  abate  the 
Millerite  excitement  a  hundred  per  cent,  throughout  the 
whole  city.  The  labors  of  Doctor  Pierce  were  signally 
blessed  to  the  people  in  Franklin-Street  Church.  I  assist- 
ed him  in  the  revival  for  more  than  four  weeks.  Many 
were  happily  converted,  and  a  goodly  number  added  to 
the  Church.  I  remember  a  very  singular  mistake,  and 
a  very  afflictive  one,  too,  that  occurred  during  that  meet- 
ing, on  one  of  our  sacramental  occasions.  The  Doctor 
and  myself  were  kneeling  at  the  communion  table — the 
prayer  of  consecration  was  ended — the  Doctor  partook  of 
the  bread  and  handed  it  to  me — he  then  took  the  cup 


INCIDENTS    AT     MOBILE.  339 

and,  after  drinking,  passed  it  to  me,  and  I  partook  of  it 
likewise.  He  then  arose  from  his  knees  and  handed  it  to 
one  or  two  communicants  kneeling  outside  the  altar — 
paused — looked  embarrassed — and  came  to  me,  and  said. 
"There  is  something  wrong;  I  fear  we  have  been  deceiv- 
ed; that  wine  has  a  strange  taste  and  smell. "  I  then  in- 
stantly perceived  it  was  Cogniac  brand}-.  The  services 
were  instantly  closed  by  making  an  explanation  to  the 
audience.  The  prayer  offered  by  brother  Pierce,  at  the 
close  of  that  occasion,  will  never  be  forgotten  by  me  while 
I  live.  "We  afterward  learned  the  steward  of  that 
Church  kept  a  demijohn  of  brandy  in  the  same  closet 
where  he  kept  the  wine  for  sacramental  purposes,  and 
that  morning  he  trusted  to  a  colored  girl  to  fill  up  the 
communion-tanks,  instead  of  attending  to  it  himself. 
Through  ignorance  on  her  part,  and  not  of  design,  this 
unfortunate  mistake  occurred.  I  understood,  before  leav- 
ing that  city,  that  this  painful  occurrence  made  a  thor- 
ough temperance-man  of  brother ,  the  steward  of  the 

Franklin-street  charge,  and  he  resolved  never  again  to 
place  the  unfermented  juice  of  the  grape  in  such  close 
proximity  with  alcoholic  brandy. 

"I    SHALL    DIE    IX    MY    XEST." 

Not  far  from  the  Crescent  City  there  lived  a  minister 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  concerning  whom  I  learned  the 
following  truthful  incident:  He  was  originally  from  one 
of  the  Xew  England  states,  and  had  left  his  "  childhood's 
sunny  home"  as  a  missionary  to  the  low-lands  of  Lou- 
isiana. Full  of  zeal,  he  came  to  instruct  the  ignorant,  to 
warn  the  impenitent,  and  proclaim  salvation  through  a 
crucified  Redeemer  to  his  perishing  fellow-men.  He  was 
especially  concerned  for  the  downtrodden  slave,  and  he 
frequently  declared,  in  public  and  private,  that  to  labor 
for  his  amelioration,  and  moral  and  spiritual  elevation,  was 


310  FOOT-PRTNTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

his  "chief  joy."  He  often  remonstrated  with  his  hear- 
ers against  the  sin  of  involuntary  servitude,  and  exhorted 
all  his  acquaintances  to  put  away  the  blighting  curse 
from  among  them.  His  efforts  were  so  judicious  and 
well  directed,  that  many  felt  the  force  of  his  reasoning, 
while  all  united  to  say  that  he  was  truly  a  humble  fol- 
lower of  Him  "who  went  about  doing  good."  But  on  a 
sudden  his  zeal  greatly  abated;  his  sermons  were  not  so 
pointed  nor  evangelical,  and  his  prayers  had  also  lost 
their  fervency  and  power.  In  a  word,  the  whole  tenor  of 
his  conduct  was  so  changed  that  it  was  noticed  by  all 
with  whom  he  had  intercourse.  But  what  had  wrought 
this  wonderful  change  in  the  conduct  of  this  professed 
teacher  of  the  way  of  life?  His  history  is  not  an  isolated 
one.  The  mystery  is  solved  by  the  following  quotation 
from  2  Tim.  iv,  10:  "Hath  forsaken  me,  having  loved 
this  present  world." 

In  one  of  his  rambles  among  the  "benighted  heath- 
en," (?)  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  rich  planter, 
whose  daughter  was  the  owner  of  one  or  two  hundred 
slaves.  A  "love  of  money"  put  out  the  eye  of  his  soul 
and  damped  the  luster  of  his  hitherto  unsullied  spirit. 
He  desired  to  be  rich,  and  in  an  evil  hour  fell  into  tempt- 
ation and  a  snare — erred  from  the  faith  and  pierced  him- 
self through  with  many  sorrows.  It  is  true,  his  determ- 
ination to  depart  from  the  legitimate  work  of  the  ministry, 
cost  him  many  a  painful  struggle,  but  the  tempter  pre- 
vailed. After  a  short  visit  to  his  native  land  to  bid  them 
"farewell,  which  were  at  home" — Luke  ix,  Gl — the  nup- 
tials were  celebrated  with  pomp  and  splendor,  and  the 
young  preacher  became  the  owner  of  a  rich  plantation, 
with  more  than  one  or  two  hundred  slaves. 

The  last  sermon  that  he  preached,  previous  to  his  mar- 
riage, was  from  these  words,  "/  shall  die  in  my  nest." 
Job  xxix,  18.     It  was  considered,  by  all  who  knew  the 


THE    RECOMPENSE.  341 

circumstances,  most  singularly  appropriate  to  his  own 
case.  Before  making  up  his  mind  to  die  in  "his  nest/' 
he  resolved  to  have  it  "well  feathered."  He  was  gener- 
ally known  afterward  by  the  cognomen  of  the  man  who 
said,  "I  shall  die  in  my  nest,  and  I  shall  multiply 
my  days  as  the  sand."  This  is  not  a  solitary  case.  0 
how  many,  who  were  once  bright  and  shining  lights  in 
the  ministry,  have  forsaken  the  cause  of  their  Master, 
and  have  turned  aside  to  "heap  up  uncertain  riches!" 
Many  have  already  ceased  to  preach,  and  are  now  quietly 
reposing  at  home, -saying,  "I  shall  die  in  my  nest." 


CHAPTER  LII. 

THE    RECOMPENSE. 

I  receiyed  tokens  of  kindness  from  all  with  whom  I 
had  intercourse  in  the  cities  of  Mobile  and  New  Orleans. 
At  times  I  preached  hard,  but,  thank  God!  I  am  well 
assured  that  my  labors  were  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  I 
was  more  than  recompensed  before  my  departure,  in  wit- 
nessing the  conversion  of  some  that  were  awakened 
through  my  instrumentality.  I  wish  to  mention  one 
case  particularly.  It  was  the  case  of  a  young  lady,  a 
Miss  Susan  B.,  a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York,  who, 
like  myself,  had  visited  the  sunny  south  with  the  hope 
of  recovering  her  health.  She  had  been  staying  with  a 
near  relative  for  several  months  before  I  made  her  ac- 
quaintance. She  was  beautiful  and  accomplished,  but  a 
stranger  to  the  religion  of  the  Son  of  God.  Her  health, 
during  the  winter,  improved  rapidly,  but  with  the  open- 
ing of  spring  all  her  fond  dreams  of  returning  health 
rapidly  vanished.  Her  uncle  had  engaged  her  passage 
in  the  first  ship  that  was  to  «ail  from  that  port  bound  to 


342  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  city  of  New  York.  But  God  had  ordered  it  other- 
wise. She  took  a  slight  cold  by  exposure  to  the  night 
air,  which  was  followed  by  a  severe  chill.  She  was  soon 
confined  to  her  room,  and  prostrated  upon  a  sick  and 
dying  bed.  I  was  sent  for  to  visit  her  several  weeks 
previous  to  her  death.  I  found  her  sinking  fast  with 
hasty  consumption  of  the  lungs  and  liver.  As  soon  as  ] 
went  in  she  requested  me  to  take  a  seat  near  her  bedside. 
She  then  proceeded  with  great  emotion  to  remark  in 
substance  as  follows : 

"  You  are  a  stranger  to  me,  but  I  also  am  a  stranger  in 
a  strange  land.  You  are  a  Christian,  I  am  not.  I  am 
confident  that  I  will  die  soon,  and  I  feel  that  I  am  un- 
prepared. I  want  your  counsel  and  your  prayers,  which, 
I  think,  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  impart  in  this  the 
hour  of  my  greatest  need." 

The  earnestness  and  pathos  with  which  she  spoke  af- 
fected all  present  to  tears.  I  read  a  chapter  in  the  Holy 
Bible,  and  then  prayed  for  the  dying  penitent  with  some 
good  degree  of  freedom.  I  continued  to  visit  her  once 
or  twice  nearly  every  day  till  her  death.  I  never  heard 
any  one  plead  more  earnestly  and  importunately  at  the 
throne  of  grace.  Her  words  and  gestures  at  times  were 
deeply  affecting.  It  was  a  most  difficult  thing  for  her  to 
"  believe  with  a  heart  unto  righteousness."  At  times  I 
feared  she  would  die  without  leaving  a  clear  testimony 
of  her  salvation.  One  evening  while  I  was  expounding 
to  her  a  portion  of  the  word  relative  to  the  atonement,  I 
stopped  suddenly  and  asked  her  if  she  could  not  see  the 
Savior  hanging  on  the  cross  and  suffering  for  the  sins  of 
a  guilty  world — for  her  sins.  She  looked  for  some  time 
with  a  fixed  gaze  and  then  exclaimed,  "I  do  see  him  by 
faith."  I  then  said  to  her,  "That  same  Jesus  that  suffered 
without  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  on  a  Roman  cross  on 
Calvary's  rugged  brow,  is  your  Savior  now,  and  I  want 


THE    RECOMPENSE.  343 

you  no  longer  to  view  him  in  his  humiliation  on  the 
cross,  but  look  up  and  see  him  at  the  right  hand  of  his 
Father  pleading  for  you  at  this  moment/'  Blessed  he 
God,  she  looked  by  faith  to  Jesus  as  an  "  exalted  prince 
and  Savior,"  and  in  a  moment  she  vxis  saved.  0  what 
words  of  rapture,  praise,  and  thanksgiving  fell  from  her 
lips  !  Her  work  was  now  done,  and  she  patiently  waited 
the  moment  of  her  joyful  release. 

When  the  time  of  her  departure  drew  near  I  was  sum- 
moned to  her  bedside.  Her  face  was  radiant  with  the 
light  that  shined  upon  her  from  beyond  the  Jordan  of 
death.  She  took  my  hand  in  hers  and  pronounced  a 
blessing  upon  my  soul,  and  thanked  me  for  my  kind 
attentions  and  the  deep  interest  I  had  taken  in  the  sal- 
vation of  her  soul.  "I  shall  never  see  my  native  place — 
the  home  of  my  youth;  but  blessed  be  God  that  here, 
in  a  distant  land,  I  have  found  Jesus,  the  friend  of  sin- 
ners. I  die  in  peace  in  a  strange  city,  but  my  flesh  shall 
rest  in  hope.  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth.  Fare- 
well to  this  sunny  clime;  I  go  to  a  city  where  the  'in- 
habitants are  never  sick.'  " 

The  closing  scene  was  most  tender  and  touching. 
As  the  death  struggle  came  on,  she  commenced,  with 
clasped  hands,  repeating,  in  an  audible  voice,  the  Lord's 
prayer.  As  her  strength  failed  she  spoke  in  lower  tones 
till  her  sufferings  were  nearly  over.  "While  listening 
attentively  to  this  childlike,  simple  manner  of  prayer, 
8he  looked  me  full  in  the  face  and  said,  with  a  clear 
voice,  "It  was  you  that  first  pointed  me  successfully  to 
the  cross  of  my  dying  but  now  risen  and  ascended  Sav- 
ior." 0  how  much  of  heaven  and  angelic  sweetness 
beamed  from  her  face,  even  during  the  last  "  sad  con- 
flict I"  When  almost  gone  and  no  longer  able  to  speak 
above  a  whisper,  I  discovered  that  her  lips  continued  to 
move.     I  then  put  my  ear  as  close  as  I  could,  and  found 


344  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

her  going  through  the  "valley  and  shadow  of  death," 
continuing  to  repeat  that  inimitable  prayer  commencing, 
"Our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven."  Thus  she  continued 
to  pray  till  the  last  "amen"  upon  her  lips  was  turned  to 
a  song  of  victory  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  of  death. 

As  I  went  forth  from  that  chamber  of  death  it  was 
near  the  midnight  hour;  not  a  footfall  was  heard  in  the 
street;  the  moon  and  stars  were  shining  in  their  beauty 
and  loveliness  in  the  dome  of  heaven.  I  was  alone,  and 
yet  not  alone,  for  G-od  was  with  me.  I  clasped  my  hands 
and  looked  up  to  heaven  and  exclaimed,  "Heavenly 
Father,  I  do  thank  thee  that  thou  hast  ever  called  me 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry!" 

"It  was  you,"  said  the  dying  stranger,  "that  first 
pointed  me  successfully  to  the  Savior."  0  my  soul, 
praise  God  that  I  was  ever  so  highly  honored!  Bless 
the  Lord,  who  daily  loadeth  me  with  benefits !  How  full 
and  rich  my  reward  this  night!  0  what  a  glorious 
recompense  !  What  are  diamonds,  pearls,  jewels,  precious 
stones — what  the  riches  and  honors  of  the  world  when 
contrasted  with  such  a  recompense?  What  are  thrones, 
kingdoms,  and  crowns  when  compared  to  the  reward  of 
the  humble  minister  of  Jesus  Christ? 

Not  long  afterward  I  left  Mroile  and  returned  to  New 
Orleans,  and  took  passage  for  home.  On  my  return  I 
spent  a  pleasant  Sabbath  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  I  traveled  almost  constantly  and  preached 
more  than  if  I  had  been  in  the  regular  work.  I  visited 
lliplcy,  3Iuysville,  Portsmouth,  Chillicothe,  Columbus, 
"Worthington,  Delaware,  preaching  once  or  twice  in  each 
place.  I  also  visited  Zanesville,  and  preached  twice  at  a 
camp  meeting  held  in  the  bounds  of  the  Putnam  circuit. 
I  preached  twice  in  Zanesville,  and  then  returned  to  Chil- 
licothe, and  preached  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  at  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  new  Methodist  Episcopal  church  on  the  Sab 


GREENFIELD    STATION.  345 

bath  previous  to  the  commencement  of  conference.  We 
had  a  pleasant  annual  conference,  and  I  enjoyed  myself 
very  well.  I  was  appointed  the  next  year  to  Greenfield 
station.  I  look  upon  the  year  that  I  traveled  for  my 
health  as  one  among  the  most  laborious  years  of  my 
itinerancy. 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

GREENFIELD    STATION,     HIGHLAND    COUNTY. 

The  town  of  Greenfield  lies  in  the  north-east  corner  of 
Highland  county,  eighteen  miles  from  Hillsboro,  and 
twenty-one  miles  from  Chillicothe.  It  is  pleasantly  loca- 
ted on  the  north  side  of  Paint  creek,  and  founded  on 
solid  rock.  It  is  in  the  midst  of  a  flourishing  country, 
and  has  an  industrious  and  moral  population.  A  railroad 
now  passes  through  it,  connecting  the  town  with  Cincin- 
nati and  Chillicothe.  The  first  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  organized  here  in  1822  by  Rev.  Jacob  De- 
lay, an  old  pioneer  preacher,  of  the  Ohio  conference. 
The  present  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1824.  The 
first  class  consisted  of  the  following  persons:  Charles 
White,  class-leader;  Thomas  Stewart  and  wife,  William 
Collins  and  wife,  Edgar  Mitchell,  Cool,  Bobbins,  Jen- 
nings, Moore,  Jones,  and  a  few  others.  It  was  organized 
into  a  station  in  1840.  I  was  appointed  to  the  station 
from  the  Chillicothe  conference,  and  commenced  my 
labors  October  15,  1843.  This  was  the  smallest  station 
that  I  ever  served,  but  I  found  here  a  noble  set  of  men, 
"who  bad  a  mind  to  work."  The  church  edifice  was  of 
stone,  and,  at  the  time  of  my  appointment,  was  in  a  bad 
state  of  repair.  The  aisles  were  of  brick,  and  also  a 
orick  pavement  in  front  of  the  altar,  the  design  of  which, 


346  FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT 

I  was  informed,  was  to  prevent  noise  in  walking.  From 
the  dampness  that  settled  on  the  walls  I  took  a  severe 
cold,  and  became  hoarse  every  time  I  attempted  to  preach. 
On  examination  the  sleepers  and  floor  were  found  in  a 
decayed  state,  from  confined  air  underneath.  I  soon 
obtained  permission  to  make  some  alterations  and  the 
necessary  repairs,  though  not  without  considerable  oppo- 
sition at  first  on  the  part  of  some  who  stave  off  all  im- 
provements of  this  kind  by  the  old,  stale  cry  of  "  letting 
well  enough  alone."  By  the  blessing  of  God  I  soon 
raised  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars,  the  amount  neces 
sary  for  all  the  repairs.  The  work  was  commenced  in 
the  early  part  of  December — the  old  floor  and  rotten  sills 
removed,  and  an  entire  new  floor  laid  down  in  their 
stead — the  house  whitewashed,  pulpit  remodeled,  altar 
carpeted,  newly  furnished,  and  a  neat  cushion  outside  of 
the  railing  for  kneeling  on  during  communion  service. 
While  the  repairs  were  progressing  I  preached  in  the 
Baptist  and  Presbyterian  churches,  and  in  the  old  school- 
house.  We  also  kept  up  our  prayer  meeting  and  class 
meetings  regularly  in  private  houses,  and  encouraged  the 
Church  to  look  for  a  general  revival  of  the  work  of  God. 
The  repairs  were  all  finished  on  Friday,  the  14th  of  Jan- 
uaiy,  and  on  the  next  Saturday  evening  I  commenced 
holding  a  protracted  meeting.  I  opened  the  services  by 
preaching  from  Isaiah  iv,  5:  "And  the  Lord  will  create 
upon  every  dwelling-place  of  Mount  Zion,  and  upon  her 
assemblies,  a  cloud  and  a  smoke  by  day,  and  the  shining 
of  a  flaming  fire  by  night;  for  upon  all  the  glory  shall 
be  a  defense."  0  it  was  a  time  of  power!  The  "Lord 
fought  our  battles  for  us,"  and  we  followed  the  "fire  and 
the  cloudy  pillar "  to  certain  victory.  Before  the  meet- 
ing closed  about  fifty  were  added  to  the  Church.  This 
was  a  good  work.  Before  the  close  of  the  year  nearly  all 
who  joined  at  this  meeting  were  admitted  into  full  con- 


GREENFIELD    STATION.  347 

nection,  some  of  whom  have  since  "died  in  the  faith/' 
and  are  now  at  rest  in  "  Abraham's  bosom. "  My  expo- 
sure in  the  early  part  of  the  winter  proved  highly  injuri- 
ous to  the  state  of  my  health. 

For  some  time  I  had  no  regular  place  to  board,  which 
was  a  great  inconvenience.  After  preaching  hard  on 
Sabbath  morning,  February  14th,  I  was  seized  with  a 
violent  attack  of  pleurisy.  I  was  unconscious  for  near 
forty-eight  hours,  and  for  more  than  five  days  I  was  near 
unto  death;  but  "  God  had  mercy  on  me"  and  heard  the 
prayer  of  his  people  in  my  behalf.  I  was  brought  back 
to  life  and  resumed  my  labors  again  in  four  weeks  from 
the  time  I  was  taken  ill.  Throughout  all  that  sore  afflic- 
tion my  mind  was  kept  in  perfect  peace,  staid  upon  the 
Savior.  The  Lord  was  very  precious  to  my  soul.  Blessed 
be  his  holy  name,  I  shouted  his  praises  on  my  bed  of 
pain  and  suffering. 

I  must  record  a  strange  coincidence  which  occurred 
during  this  affliction,  and  one  which  I  have  often  looked 
back  to  with  much  interest.  At  the  worst  stage  of  my 
disease,  a  few  days  before  the  time  of  my  second  quar- 
terly meeting,  while  dozing,  I  fancied  that  I  was  ascend- 
ing a  high  mountain.  When  in  full  view  of  its  summit 
I  found  my  strength  was  failing  very  fast;  but  I  urged 
my  way  onward  up  its  rugged  side  till  near  the  top.  At 
this  point  the  mountain  ascent  was  almost  perpendicular, 
and  cliff  after  cliff  rose  above  me.  I  made  another  effort 
and  succeeded  in  clambering  up  till  I  gained  a  foothold 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  much-desired  place  of  rest. 
It  was  a  moment  of  intense  effort  and  anxiety.  For  a 
time  my  mind  was  overwhelmed  in  despair.  I  felt  my 
strength  entirely  exhausted.  However,  I  resolved  to 
make  another  effort.  I  then  took  hold  of  some  slender 
green  shrubs  that  projected  from  the  rocks,  and  by  a 
mighty  struggle  succeeded  in  drawing  up  my  weary  frame 


348         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN     ITINERANT. 

to  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  On  reaching  the  top  I 
instantly  swooned  away  and  fell  prostrate  on  the  ground. 
After  I  revived,  on  looking  over  the  edge  of  the  preci- 
pice I  saw  my  presiding  elder,  Rev.  Joseph  M.  Trim- 
ble, standing  on  a  cliff  below  me  about  ten  feet.  He 
looked  up  and  smiled,  and  then  addressed  me  in  the  most 
affectionate  manner:  "My  dear  brother  Mack,  you  have 
made  a  narrow  escape,  but,  thank  God !  you  are  safe." 

The  next  Saturday  was  the  time  for  the  commencement 
of  the  quarterly  meeting.  Brother  Trimble  arrived  on 
Friday  evening,  and  entering  my  room  found  me  alone. 
I  was  quietly  dozing  a  little  and  my  fever  almost  entirely 
gone.  I  was  soon  aroused  by  his  feeling  my  pulse.  On 
looking  me  in  the  face  he  smiled  and  addressed  me  as 
follows  :  "My  dear  brother  Mack,  you  have  made  a  narrow 
escape,  but,  thank  God !  you  are  safe."  The  reader  will 
perceive  that  this  is  the  same  form  of  expression  pre- 
cisely as  he  used  when,  in  my  "night  vision/'  I  saw  him 
standing  on  the  mountain  cliff. 

With  the  opening  of  spring  I  gained  strength  slowly, 
and  found  it  difficult  to  fill  my  appointments.  I  preached 
my  farewell  sermon  early  in  August,  and  took  my  depart- 
ure amid  the  tears  and  kind  benedictions  of  a  people 
that  had  deeply  sympathized  with  me  in  all  my  "  tribu- 
lations." Total  numbers  in  society  at  the  close  of  my 
labors,  two  hundred  and  thirty-six. 

The  Greenfield  station  is  small,  but  composed  of  good 
men  and  true,  among  whom  are  Judge  Eckman,  Jonn 
Boyd,  Esq.,  Mains,  Evans,  Middleton,  etc.,  and  many 
others  whose  names  I  can  not  now  call  to  remembrance. 
The  Lord  grant  that  I  may  meet  them  all  in  bright  glory  I 


HILLSBORO,     OHIO.  349 


CHAPTER    LIV. 

HILLSBORO,     OHIO. 

Hillsboro  is  in  Highland  county,  which  takes  its 
name  from  the  high  lands  which  form  a  dividing  ridge 
between  the  Miami  and  Scioto  rivers.  It  is  a  remark- 
ably healthy  situation.  The  county  was  first  settled  in 
1801;  the  principal  part  of  the  first  settlers  were  from 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  many  of  whom  were 
Friends.  Hillsboro  was  laid  out  as  the  seat  of  justice  in 
1807.  The  original  town  plat  contained  two  hundred 
acres,  one  hundred  of  which  Mr.  Ellicott,  the  proprietor, 
gave  to  the  county,  and  sold  the  remainder  at  two  dollars 
per  acre.  It  is  the  residence  of  Governor  Allen  Trim- 
ble, who  settled  here  at  an  early  day.  Methodism  was 
planted  here  at  an  early  period.  In  1806  Governor  A. 
Trimble's  house  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  preaching- 
places  on  Scioto  circuit.  At  that  time  Rev.  John  Sale 
was  presiding  elder  and  Rev.  James  Quinn  preacher  in 
charge. 

I  attended  conference  at  Marietta,  from  which  place  I 
received  my  appointment  to  this  station.  I  opened  my 
ministry  September  29,  1844,  from  these  words:  "I  am 
come  to  you  in  the  fullness  of  the  blessing  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  Christ" — Romans  xv,  29 — and  at  our  next  coming 
together  I  addressed  them  on  the  verse  immediately  fol- 
lowing: "Now  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  for  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ's  sake,  and  for  the  love  of  the  Spirit,  that 
ye  strive  together  with  me  in  your  prayers  to  God  for 
me/'  They  soon  made  me  feel  that  I  was  welcome  to 
their  station.  My  health  returned  and  I  preached  with 
more  liberty  of   spirit  than  I  had  ever  done  among  a 


350         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

strange  people.  God  blessed  his  word,  and  souls  were 
awakened  and  converted. 

At  our  first  quarterly  meeting  the  Lord  poured  out  his 
Holy  Spirit  in  a  wonderful  manner.  On  Monday  night 
the  altar  was  filled  with  mourners,  and  a  number  con- 
verted to  God.  The  Oakland  Female  Seminary  shared 
largely  in  the  refreshing  shower.  The  good  work  pro- 
gressed all  winter.  In  the  spring  I  had  some  alterations 
and  repairs  made  on  the  old  church,  and  the  pulpit  mod- 
ern ized. 

At  the  close  of  the  conference  held  in  Cincinnati  I 
was  returned  to  Hillsboro  station,  and  commenced  my 
labors  September  28,  1845.  My  health  became  poor,  yet 
I  preached  twice  nearly  every  Sabbath.  God  favored  us 
with  another  year  of  great  prosperity.  We  sold  the  old 
parsonage-house,  and  raised  money  enough,  by  subscrip- 
tion, to  build  a  new  and  elegant  one  on  the  lot  immedi- 
ately adjoining  the  church.  God  greatly  prospered  me 
in  my  own  soul  while  laboring  in  Hillsboro.  I  read  and 
prayed  much,  and  often  studied  my  sermons  on  my  knees. 
Whenever  I  succeeded  in  steeping  them  in  my  heart,  I 
did  not  labor  as  one  that  "beateth  the  air." 

I  will  now  relate  how  strangely  I  was  exercised  at  one 
time  early  on  a  certain  Sabbath  morning.  During  the 
previews  week  I  had  made  a  "labored  preparation"  for 
the  pulpit.  "While  engaged  in  pondering  over  it  some- 
thing seemed  to  whisper  in  my  ear,  '-What  is  all  this 
for?  "Will  God  be  glorified  or  his  kingdom  advanced  by 
such  an  effort  ?"  I  was  reproved  by  the  Spirit.  I  felt 
it  deeply  in  my  soul.  I  fell  upon  my  knees  and  said, 
"Lord,  show  me  the  way  I  should  take;  I  am  nothing;  I 
am  in  thy  hands.  'To  me  who  am  less  than  the  least  of 
all  saints  is  this  grace  given,  that  I  should  preach  among 
the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.'  "  I 
took  another  text  and  prcarhed  a  plain,  practical  serrnou 


HILLSBORO,     OHIO.  351 

God  owned  his  word.  A  glorious  revival  commenced, 
which  continued  nearly  all  the  winter.  Many  found 
peace  in  believing.  Among  this  number  were  several  of 
the  young  ladies  of  the  Oakland  Female  Seminary. 

In  the  early  part  of  my  connection  with  the  station 
at  Hillsboro  I  was  greatly  annoyed  by  two  or  three  per- 
sons who  styled  themselves  "  Second  Advent  Believers/' 
but  now  generally  known  as  Millerites.  I  must  record 
here  some  of  the  injurious  effects  of  this  fanatical  de- 
lusion in  Hillsboro  and  the  immediate  vicinity.  Some 
quietly  withdrew  from  our  society,  but  others  remained 
still  with  us,  who  disturbed  the  peace  and  tranquillity  of 
the  whole  society.  It  was  ardently  hoped  by  their 
friends  that,  after  frequent  disappointments  as  to  the 
time  of  the  "general  conflagration,"  they  would  be  led 
to  renounce  this  unscriptural  dogma  or  heresy.  But  in 
this  we  were  all  doomed  to  a  sad  disappointment.  I 
preached  a  special  sermon  on  that  subject,  and  warned 
them  of  the  fearful  consequences  of  departing  from  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 

I  will  now  furnish  my  readers  with  the  outline  of  that 
sermon  : 

"And  this  I  say,  lest  any  man  should  beguile  you  with 
enticing  words.  For  though  I  be  absent  in  the  flesh,  yet 
am  I  with  you  in  the  spirit,  joying  and  beholding  your 
order,  and  the  steadfastness  of  your  faith  in  Christ.  As 
ye  have  therefore  received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  so 
walk  ye  in  him :  rooted  and  built  up  in  him,  and  stab- 
lished  in  the  faith,  as  ye  have  been  taught,  abounding 
therein  with  thanksgiving.  Beware  lest  any  man  spoil 
you  through  philosophy  and  vain  deceit,  after  the  tradi- 
tion of  men,  after  the  rudiments  of  the  world,  and  not 
after  Christ/'     Colossians  ii,  4-8. 

St.  Paul  was  now  a  prisoner  in  bonds  at  Home.  He 
regrets  that  he  could  only  serve  the  Colossians  by  his  epis- 


852  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

tie  and  'prayers.  He  declares  his  u  agony,  or  conflict/' 
for  them  and  the  Church  at  Laodicea,  and  for  "all  who 
had  not  seen  his  face  in  the  flesh."  St.  Paul  regarded 
the  Gospel  as  a  glorious  treasure — the  perfection  of  all 
the  preceding  dispensations,  and  a  perfect  revelation  of 
the  will  of  God  to  man.  He  knew  the  danger  to  which 
the  Church  at  Colosse  was  exposed;  hence  the  note  of 
timely  warning,  "This  I  say,  lest  any  man  beguile  you/' 
etc.     In  addressing  you  I  shall  notice, 

I.  The  apostle's  rejoicing,  and  the  ground  of  it. 

"For  though  I  he  absent  in  the  flesh,  yet  am  I  with 
you  in  the  spirit/'  etc.  It  is  a  disputed  point  whether  St. 
Paul  knew  what  was  passing  in  the  Churches  without 
being  present  in  body.  It  is  probable  that  he  had  this 
gift  bestowed  on  him  at  certain  times;  as  in  the  case 
of  Elisha,  who  told  the  king  of  Israel  what  passed  in  the 
bedchamber  of  the  king  of  Assyria.  The  apostle  had 
not  visited  Colosse;  he  had  not  seen  their  faces  in  the 
flesh;  yet  he  had  heard  a  favorable  report  of  them,  and 
from  the  day  that  he  first  heard  of  their  faith  and  stead- 
fastness in  Christ  he  ceased  not  to  pray  for  them,  and  to 
give  thanks  to  God — though  absent  in  the  flesh,  he  was 
present  in  spirit,  joying.  The  ground  of  this  rejoicing 
was  their  order  and  the  steadfastness  of  their  faith  in 
Christ. 

1.  Their  "order."  Regularity  marked  all  their  delib- 
erations. He  was  pleased  with  their  established  usages 
All  things  were  done  decently  and  in  order.  This  was 
one  ground  of  the  rejoicing  of  St.  Paul. 

2.  The  " steadfastness  of  your  faith."  This  was  an- 
other ground  of  his  rejoicing.  They  were  stable,  uni- 
form, not  given  to  change.  They  were  consistent  in 
their  profession  of  religion;  not  soon  moved  from  the 
hope  of  their  calling,  nor  carried  about  by  every  wind  of 
doctrine;  not  like  some  in  our  times,  a  Methodist  to-day, 


HILLSBORO,     OHIO.  353 

a  Presbyterian  to-morrow;  next  week  an  Episcopalian, 
next  year  a  Baptist,  then  a  Universalist,  next  a  Mormon, 
and  last  of  all  a  Millerite.  This  leads  me  to  notice  this 
wide-spread  delusion  more  particularly,  according  to 
promise  made  on  last  Sabbath  night. 

II.  The  warning  or  caution  given  in  our  text. 

"  This  I  say,  lest  any  man  should  beguile  you."  The 
very  idea  of  a  seducer  is  repulsive.  Satan  seduced  our 
first  parents  in  the  garden  of  Eden.  Wicked  men  still 
seduce  one  another.  But  0  how  alarming  to  think  of 
those  professing  to  be  guides  or  teachers  of  the  way  of 
life,  being  only  seducers,  "  beguiling  men  with  enticing 
words,"  or  spoiling  them  through  philosophy  or  vain  de- 
ceit! If  this  warning  was  necessary  eighteen  hundred 
years  ago,  it  is  more  necessary  at  the  present  time.  If 
there  were  false  prophets  of  old  among  the  people,  cer- 
tainly we  have  false  teachers  in  the  Church  now.  There 
were  many  teachers  of  this  kind  troubling  the  Church 
at  Colosse.  Some  said  there  was  neither  angel  nor  spirit, 
others  denied  the  "resurrection  of  the  dead,"  while  some 
said  it  was  past.  Some  affirmed  the  same  body  would 
be  raised,  others  declared  a  new  one,  phoenix-like,  would 
come  out  of  the  ashes  of  the  old.  Some  were  zealous  in 
their  advocacy  of  the  soul-sleeping  scheme.  The  Plato- 
nists  represented  demons  as  carrying  prayers  up  to  God 
and  bringing  back  answers.  St.  Augustine  prayed  for 
the  dead.  Now,  all  these  our  apostle  called  "vain  and 
deceitful,"  because  they  did  not  conduct  to  inward  piety 
of  heart,  but  beguiled  unstable  souls.  So  it  is  in  our 
day.  The  present  is  an  age  of  error.  Many  new  and 
false  systems  of  religion  have  recently  been  compiled, 
and  are  now  propagated  with  a  zeal  worthy  of  a  better 
cause.  The  old  heresies  and  errors  of  past  ages  have 
been  revived — rebaptized,  and  sent  out  to  beguile  men 
under  a  new  name  and  with  a  more  bewitching  garb. 
30 


354  FOOT -PR  I  NTS    OF    AX     ITINERANT. 

There  is  nothing  very  new  under  the  sun,  after  all,  in 
false  doctrines.  The  '•world-burners"  existed  in  the 
Church  at  Thessalonica.  The  peace  and  harmony  of  the 
brethren  were  disturbed  by  a  class  of  teachers  who  pro 
fessed  to  know  the  time  of  the  second  advent  of  Christ 
2  Thessalonians  ii,  1,  2:  "Now  we  beseech  you,  breth- 
ren, by  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  our 
gathering  together  unto  him,  that  ye  be  not  soon  shaken 
in  mind,  or  be  troubled,  neither  by  spirit,  nor  by  word, 
nor  by  letter  as  from  us,  as  that  the  day  of  Christ  is  ai 
hand."  How  important  the  additional  note  of  warning 
in  my  text,  " Beware,  lest  any  man  spoil  you  through  phi- 
losophy or  vain  deceit.'''  False  teachers  are  robbers  of 
God's  dear  children,  and  spoilers  of  his  heritage.  The 
apostle  does  not  condemn  true  philosophy.  Solomon,  the 
wise  man,  was  a  philosopher,  and  so  was  David,  the  sweet 
singer  of  Israel.  God's  works  are  still  sought  out  of 
them  that  take  pleasure  therein.  "  True  philosophy  is 
the  improver  of  reason,  the  guide  of  our  faculties,  and 
teaches  us  the  true  knowledge  of  God  and  of  ourselves. 
and  is  no  hinderance,  but  the  aid  or  handmaid  of  relig- 
ion. "  But  "vain  deceit,"  unprofitable  speculations,  and 
traditions  of  men,  false  philosophy,  desjwil  and  damn  the 
soul. 

III.  The  antidote,  or  remedy. 

"  As  ye  have  therefore  received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord, 
so  walk  ye  in  him:  rooted  and  built  up,  and  stablished 
in  the  faith,  as  ye  have  been  taught,  abounding  therein 
with  thanksgiving." 

Here,  my  beloved  hearers,  is  the  grand  specific,  or  Gos- 
pel halsam — the  only  effectual  remedy  against  the  pre- 
vailing errors  of  the  day.  Nothing  will  save  you  from 
being  turned  away  from  uthc  truth  as  ye  have  been  taught," 
but  " walking  in  Christ  Jesus."  Neither  learning,  nor 
philosophy,  nor  mere  knowledge,  however  varied,  either 


HILLSBORO,     OHIO.  355 

human  or  divine,  will  secure  you  against  "seducers"  and 
vain  and  deceitful  philosophies.  The  best  antidote  is  a 
holy  life,  walking  humbly  with  God — following  in  the 
footsteps  of  the  Savior,  " rooted  and  built  up  in  him,  and 
stablished  in  the  faith."  No  lion  shall  be  there,  nor  any 
ravenous  beast  shall  go  up  thereon.  We  must  first  get 
out  of  the  way  before  danger  can  befall  us  on  our  pilgrim- 
age to  Mount  Zion.  "When  men  become  "wise  above 
what  is  written,"  they  soon  embrace  some  deadly  error  or 
heresy.  Pious  and  devoted  men  never  fall  into  grievous 
errors.  We  need  a  holt/  ministry  and  a  self-denying 
membership,  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the  Gospd. 
Then  will  God  arise  for  our  help,  and  in  righteousness 
"recompense  tribulation  to  them  that  trouble  us."  Then 
shall  we  be  "delivered  from  unreasonable  and  wicked 
men,"  and  the  Lord  shall  direct  all  our  hearts  into  the 
lo^e  of  God  and  into  the  patient  waiting  for  Christ. 
Amen. 

"  There  the  simple  can  not  stray, 
Babes,  though  blind,  may  find  the  way — 
Find,  nor  even  thence  depart, 
Safe  in  lowliness  of  heart ; 
Far  from  fear,  from  danger  far, 
Xo  devouring  beast  is  there  ; 
There  the  humble  walk  secure, 
God  bath  made  their  footsteps  sure.1' 


The  Millerites,  notwithstanding,  turned  a  deaf  ear  to 
all  my  private  admonitions  and  public  warnings  from 
the  sacred  desk.  With  most  astonishing  tenacity  they 
clung  to  their  favorite  theory  of  the  near  approach  of  a 
"burning  world."  They  continued  to  "wax  worse  and 
worse,"  "deceiving  and  being  deceived,"  till  several  of 
them  were  almost  ruined.  A  short  time  before  the 
period  fixed  for  the  winding  up  of  the  affairs  of  this  mun- 
dane sphere;  five  of  the  deluded  followers  of  Mr.  Jacobs 


356  fOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

at  Cincinnati,  who  was  one  of  the  principal  leaders 
among  the  Millerites  in  the  west,  visited  Hillsboro.  Tho 
object  of  their  visit,  according  to  their  own  statement, 
was  to  assist  their  brethren  and  sisters  in  that  town  and 
the  surrounding  country  before  the  great  and  notable  day 
of  the  Lord  should  come,  as  they  were  pleased  to  phrase 
it,  all  they  could.  Their  visit  was  succeeded  by  the 
two  "  angels,"  or  "  little  children,"  as  they  called  them- 
selves, ladies  with  whom  I  had  formed  an  acquaintance 
while  stationed  in  Cincinnati.  They  were  recent  con- 
verts of  3Ir.  Jacobs,  and  were  sent  out  by  the  "faith- 
ful" to  assist  others  in  "getting  into  the  kingdom." 
Not  long  after  the  arrival  of  the  "angels,"  alias  certain 
women,  Mr.  J.  M.  and  Mr.  F.  G.  and  wife  were  all  sud- 
denly "born  into  the  kingdom"  with  the  aid  of  these 
celestial  visitants.  (?)  Their  regeneration  was  succeeded 
by  the  following  ceremonies,  such  as  "washing  of  feet," 
the  "holy  kiss,"  and  a  desire  to  share  all  their  worldly 
goods  "in  common."  A  short  time  after  the  departure  of 
the  "angels"  Mr.  31.  informed  his  wife  and  children  that 
he  had  been  instructed — by  the  "angels,"  I  suppose — to 
sell  all  that  he  had  and  move  immediately  to  the  Queen 
City  of  the  west,  and  spend  the  remnant  of  his  short  life  in 
the  society  of  the  "  children  of  the  kingdom,"  who  were 
collecting  there  from  all  parts  of  the  Union.  To  this 
wild  proposition  the  wife  and  children  unanimously  ob- 
jected; for,  to  their  credit  be  it  spoken,  not  another 
member  of  the  household  was  tinctured  in  the  slightest 
degree  with  Millerism.  He  then  told  them  they  must 
take  care  of  themselves,  for  he  was  determined  to  leave 
all  for  Christ's  sake.  He  then  calmly  delivered  over  to 
his  wife  all  his  notes  and  papers  that  were  of  any  real 
value.  He  stated  that  since  his  conversion  to  "spirit- 
ualism" he  had  lost  all  "natural  affection"  or  earthly 
desires,    and    intended    to   lead    a   life    of    strict    "self- 


HtLLSBORO,     OHIO.  357 

denial"  till  the  time  of  the  second  advent,  that  was  near 
at  hand.  He  then,  in  a  very  solemn  manner,  bade  them 
all  a  final  adieu,  came  to  Cincinnati  and  joined  him- 
self to  the  followers  of  Mr.  Jacobs.  I  think  he  is  still 
living,  but  has  never  returned  to  live  with  his  family 
at  Hillsboro.  Poor  deluded  man !  He  left  a  comforta- 
ble homestead  and  a  respectable  and  interesting  family 
with  whom  he  might  have  spent  the  evening  of  life  in 
peace  and  quietude.  The  indignation  of  the  Church 
and  community  was  greatly  increased  by  the  visit  of  the 
" angels"  and  the  unhappiness  resulting  to  the  family, 
of  brother  M.  But  the  disastrous  effects  of  their  last 
visit  did  not  stop  with  the  alienation  of  Mr.  M.  from 
his  lovely  family.  Mr.  F.  G-.  and  wife,  for  they  were 
agreed,  only  tarried  behind  a  little  season  to  enable 
them  to  dispose  of  their  valuable  farm  and  household 
goods  to  better  advantage.  For  this  they  had  been 
instructed  beforehand  by  the  "  angels."  I  conversed  with 
him  not  long  after  their  departure,  and  he  assured  me 
that  he  was  now  convinced  that  it  was  his  duty  imme- 
diately to  sell  all  that  he  had  and  give  it  to  the  poor — 
the  followers  of  Mr.  Jacobs — or  else  he  could  not  enter 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  He  went  home  and  fixed  upon 
a  day  for  a  public  vendue  of  his  stock  and  household 
furniture,  and  then  returned  to  town  and  offered  his  farm 
to  one  of  our  brethren  for  less  than  half  its  real  value. 
At  last  he  declared  his  intention  to  sell  at  any  price; 
for  he  now  considered  it  wicked  to  put  a  price  or  value 
his  own  property  so  soon  to  be  destroyed.  He  said  all 
must  go  now  just  for  what  his  neighbors  were  willing 
to  give,  be  it  much  or  little.  This  was  another  part  of 
his  new  creed,  or  one  of  the  conditions  of  "  getting 
into  the  kingdom."  He  repeatedly  declared  his  inten- 
tion to  "sell  all  that  he  had  and  give  to  the  poor,"  and 
when  it  was  all  gone  he  knew  the  Lord  would  "compel 


358  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  wicked  to  maintain  him  and  his  family"  till  the 
Judge  should  come. 

I  was  soon  convinced  that  he  was  partially  deranged, 
and  rendered  incapable  by  the  celestial  visitants  (?)  of 
attending  to  his  secular  concerns.  I  consulted  with  his 
brothers,  who  are  worthy  and  intelligent  men,  and  all 
members  of  our  Church,  on  what  was  the  best  course  to 
take  to  keep  him  from  self-ruin  and  his  family  from 
poverty.  After  prayerful  deliberation  it  was  finally  con- 
cluded, as  a  dernier  resort,  to  make  an  appeal  to  the 
strong  arm  of  the  law.  Accordingly,  an  inquest  was 
immediately  taken  under  the  statute  of  the  state  of 
Ohio,  "providing  for  the  safe-keeping  of  idiots,  lunatics, 
and  insane  persons,  and  for  the  better  management  of 
their  estates,"  etc.  And  on  the  16th  of  February,  1846, 
Mr.  G.  was  brought  before  Judge  Lilly,  one  of  the  asso- 
ciate judges  of  the  county  of  H.  A  jury  of  five  per- 
sons were  impanneled  and  sworn  to  inquire  into  the 
" state  of  mind"  of  Mr.  F.  G.  This  by  many  was  con- 
sidered a  novel  and  high-handed  measure;  but  our  trust- 
was  in  God  for  the  good  that  was  to  follow,  and  we  re- 
solved to  turn  neither  to  the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left. 

Judge was  employed  on  the  part  of  the  state,  but 

Mr.  G.  resolved  to  plead  his  own  cause.  An  intense 
excitement  prevailed,  and  the  spacious  court-room  was 
filled  to  its  utmost  capacity.  The  trial  proceeded  in  the 
regular  form.  Competent  physicians  were  sworn,  and 
gave  it  as  their  opinion,  after  examining  carefully  the 
state  of  Mr.  G.'s  mind,  that  he  was  not  competent  to 
attend  to  his  secular  affairs.  The  counsel  for  the  state 
then  requested  Mr.  G.  to  state  to  the  jury  and  court 
the  reasons  for  his  strange  conduct  in  desiring  to  sell  his 
farm,  etc.  In  answer  to  this  question  Mr.  G.  promptly 
replied,  "I  have  been  so  instructed  by  the  'angels'  as 
the  only  condition  of  my  l  getting  into  the  kingdom.' n 


HILLSBORO,     OHIO.  359 

And  he  also  remarked  that,  during  the  last  night,  after 
the  "delightful  ceremony  of  washing  each  other's  feet/' 
while  reading  in  the  New  Testament,  he  came  to  these 
words,  "Yet  lackest  thou  one  thing:  go  and  sell  all  that 
thou  hast,  and  distribute  unto  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt 
have  treasure  in  heaven;  and  come  and  follow  me;"  that 
he  saw  the  words,  "go  and  sell  all  that  thou  hast,"  on 
fire.  "What  kind  of  fire?"  inquired  Judge  P.  "Why, 
fire  that  gives  light,"  answered  Mr.  Gr.  "What,"  re- 
plied Judge  P.,  "do  I  understand  you  to  mean  literal 
fire,  such  as  we  use  in  our  fireplaces  to  keep  us  warm  ?" 
"Yes,  sir,"  answered  Mr.  Gr.,  "that  is  exactly  what  I  mean 
to  say."  Judge  P.  then  remarked  that  he  was  willing 
to  submit  the  case  to  the  jury  without  a  single  remark. 
The  jury  retired,  and,  after  examining  the  testimony 
and  all  the  facts  presented  before  them,  returned  into 
court  with  their  verdict  in  the  following  words  : 

"We,  the  subscribers  and  jurors,  impanneled  and  sworn 
to  inquire  into  the  state  of  mind  of  Mr.  F.  Gr.,  having 
heard  the  evidence  in  his  case,  do  find  the  same  F.  Gr.  to 
be  insane,  and  incapable  of  attending  to  his  ordinary  busi- 
ness; and  that  he  is  not  so  furiously  mad  as  to  render 
it  dangerous  to  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  community 
that  he  should  be  permitted  to  go  at  large.  We  further 
find  that  he  owns  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres  of 
land,  worth  two  thousand,  five  hundred  dollars,  the  annual 
rent  of  which  is  worth  seventy-five  dollars.  We  also 
find  that  he  is  possessed  of  personal  estate  to  the  amount 
of  eight  hundred  and  thirty-seven  dollars. 

"Signed,  " 


il 

u 


On  hearing  the  verdict  Mr.  G.  remarked  that  he  had 


360  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

but  one  request  to  make  of  the  court,  and  that  was  this, 
that  they  would  appoint  the  "biggest  devil,;  in  Hillsboro 
for  his  guardian.  After  which  he  became  a  little  more 
subdued  and  composed,  and  remarked  to  the  court, 
" Gentlemen,  you  have  ruined  me,  and  now  I  give  you 
warning  that  to-morrow  about  this  time  I  will  pass 
thiough  Hillsboro  with  my  wife  and  eight  children  on 
foot,  notwithstanding  there  is  snow  on  the  ground.  And 
in  this  way  we  will  travel  to  Cincinnati,  leaving  all 
behind  us  for  the  sake  of  Christ/'  The  court  then 
adjourned,  and  on  the  day  following,  agreeably  to  the 
sixth  act  of  the  statute  above  referred  to,  the  associate 
judges  of  the  county  appointed  Captain  as  guard- 
ian for  the  estate  and  his  wife  and  eight  helpless  chil- 
dren. This  course  proved  successful  beyond  our  most 
sanguine  expectations.  He  could  not  procure  means  to 
go  away,  and  had  not  the  courage  to  depart  "empty- 
handed,"  as  he  had  threatened  at  the  close  of  the  trial. 
After  the  excitement  was  over  he  said  we  all  intended  to 
do  him  harm;  but  divine  Providence  overruled  our  wicked 
designs.  But  I  have  no  doubt  he  must  feel  grateful  at 
this  hour  on  the  reflection  that  we  prevented  his  utter 
temporal  and  perhaps  spiritual  ruin.  God  grant  that  I 
may  meet  him  and  his  dear  family  in  heaven ! 


CHAPTER  LV. 

A    VISIT    TO    THE    MILLERITE    TABERNACLE. 

The  storm  of  Millerism  and  come-outism,  which  swept 
over  the  Churches  at  that  time,  with  all  its  anti-religious 
developments,  may  be  easily  traced  to  their  true  cause — 
a  desire  to  be  wise  above  what  is  written;  to  improve  on 
Divine  revelation.     As  one  has  remarked,  we  only  want  a 


VISIT    TO    A    MILLERITE    TABERNACLE.     361 

faith  strong  enough  to  believe  up  to  what  is  revealed,  and 
also  strong  enough  to  confide  all  beyond  into  the  hands  of 
the  Judge  of  all  the  earth,  who  will  most  assuredly  do 
what  is  right.  Cincinnati  was  headquarters  for  this  de- 
luded people.  They  first  constructed  a  "big  tent/'  of 
canvas,  one  hundred  feet  in  diameter,  that  would  seat 
over  two  thousand  persons.  It  was  a  movable  affair,  like 
the  tents  of  the  Israelites.  It  was  taken  to  Springfield 
and  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  to  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana.  "When 
their  numbers  increased,  they  also  erected  a  brick  taber- 
nacle on  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  John  streets,  in  Cin- 
cinnati. It  would  seat  comfortably  about  twenty-five 
hundred  persons.  Here  they  continued  to  preach  and 
worship  till  the  period  fixed  for  the  "  end  of  time." 

Rev.  AVilliam  Miller,  the  founder  of  this  sect,  stated  in 
his  fourteenth  proposition,  in  the  "Midnight  Cry/'  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1843 : 

"I  believe  the  time  can  be  known  by  all  who  desire  to 
understand  and  be  ready  at  his  coming.  I  am  fully  con- 
vinced that  between  March  21,  1843,  and  March  21, 
1844,  according  to  the  Jewish  mode  of  computation  of 
time,  Christ  will  come  and  bring  all  his  saints  with  him, 
and  that  he  will  reward  every  man  according  to  his 
work." 

They  all  finally  united  upon  the  22d  day  of  October, 
1844,  and  made  their  arrangements  accordingly.  In  the 
last  issue  of  the  "Midnight  Cry,"  on  the  19th  of  Octo- 
ber, three  days  before  the  appointed  time  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  this  mundane  system,  may  be  found  the  following 
last  warning: 

"Reader,  this  is  the  last  morning;  and  now,  at  the 
eleventh  hour,  we  ask  you,  ARE  you  awake?  'Tis  too 
late  to  talk  of  redeeming  misspent  moments.  Be  wise 
to-day!  'Tis  madness  to  defer  now,  on  the  borders  of 
eternity.     Fly  to  the  arms  of  Jesus  \" 


362  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

In  addition  to  this  they  issued  several  thousand  copies 
of  the  "  Midnight  Cry/'  with  this  imposing  heading  in 
large  letters : 

"Behold,  the  Bridegroom  cometh!  Go  ye  out  to  meet 
him!" 

In  this  document  there  was  a  summing-up  of  the  prin- 
cipal arguments,  and  a  specification  of  the  time  for  the 
world's  destruction.  As  I  had  had  considerable  trouble 
with  some  of  them  in  my  congregation,  I  concluded  to  go 
down  to  Cincinnati  and  witness  for  myself  the  finale  of 
this  wide-spreading  delusion.  I  arrived  there  in  good 
time,  but  was  told  that  the  house  was  so  full  I  could  not 
get  in.  They  spent  the  night  in  "watching  for  their 
Lord;"  but  he  did  not  appear.  The  next  morning  I  was 
informed  they  were  still  "  robed/'  and  at  the  tabernacle, 
wondering  why  he  "delayed  his  coming."  I  met  Judge 
Johnston,  and  we  agreed  to  go  down  in  company  at  nine 
o'clock.  On  our  arrival  there  we  found  the  house  still 
about  two-thirds  full.  Some  were  standing,  and  others 
walking  about,  distributing  a  paper  headed  the  "Last 
Warning."  At  times  they  would  sing  a  beautiful  hymn. 
About  twelve  o'clock  they  became  exceedingly  restless, 
and  some  started  to  leave.  Then  an  old  veteran,  called 
Deacon  Smith,  arose  and  remarked,  with  a  strong  voice, 
"Brethren  and  sisters,  we  have  now  arrived  at  the  Red 
Sea.  I  exhort  you,  one  and  all,  to  stand  still  and  see  the 
salvation  of  God !"  Then,  pulling  out  his  watch  to  note 
the  time,  he  said,  "My  faith  is  unwavering;  the  time  is 
not  up  yet  by  more  than  one  hour."  This  speech  was 
followed  by  many  hearty  responses,  and  one  or  two  Mil- 
lerite  songs.  A  Mr.  H.  next  arose  and  said,  "If  Christ 
does  not  come  this  day  I  will  believe  this  Bible  false !" 
clapping  his  hands  violently  on  the  word  of  God  before 
him.  A  sister  then  spoke  incoherently  for  a  considerable 
time,  clearly  evincing  that  her  mind  had  lost  its  proper 


VISIT    TO    A    MILLERITE    TABERNACLE.     363 

balance.  When  she  was  done  speaking,  another  lady, 
with  whom  I  was  well  acquainted,  arose  to  "show  us  her 
opinion/'  and  wound  up  some  very  foolish  and  common- 
place remarks  by  saying,  "that  she  knew  this  was  the 
time  for  Christ's  second  coming,  for  when  she  got  up  on 
yesterday  morning  she  saw  red  streaks  in  the  sky  toward 
the  east."  This  was  one  of  the  ablest  arguments  (?) 
offered  on  that  occasion.  About  one  o'clock,  Rev.  Deacon 
W.  arose  and  spoke  substantially  as  follows  :  "  I  never  did 
fix  upon  the  precise  time  myself,  and  I  always  told  my 
brethren  they  would  get  into  trouble  if  they  did ;  but 
they  would  not  listen  to  me,  but  followed  other  leaders. 
3Iy  faith  is  this:  I  believe  that  at  this  period  the  'sign 
of  the  Son  of  man  will  appear  in  heaven,'  "  but  how  much 
longer  after  the  appearance  of  the  "sign  of  the  Son  of 
man,"  before  the  Son  of  man  would  actually  appear,  he 
could  not  inform  them;  but  said,  " Brethren,  as  this  is  a 
Jewish  reckoning,  made  for  the  land  of  Palestine,  there 
must  be  some  allowance  made  for  ' latitude  and  longitude' 
when  time  is  reckoned;  but  I  tell  you  I  believe  the  most 
important  thing  after  all  is,  to  be  ready;  and  now  I  want 
you  all  to  pray  that  your  old  friend  J.  W.  may  not  be 
like  some  'balloon  ascensions'  that  I  have  witnessed  in 
this  city,  which,  after  going  up  for  a  time,  fall  suddenly 
to  the  earth  again;  but  when  I  do  begin  to  ascend  I  hope 
[  may  keep  on  till  I  enter  the  portals  of  paradise."  This 
address  was  followed  by  hearty  responses  from  the  Ad- 
ventists,  and  laughter  among  the  spectators. 

I  might  give  other  more  amusing,  yet  not  less  instruct- 
ing parts  of  this  religious  farce.  They  were  most  fear- 
fully deluded  by  their  leaders.  Many  of  them  I  knew 
were  sincere.  Never,  in  all  the  history  of  the  Church, 
was  a  people  found  waiting  with  more  earnest  expectation 
than  those  that  looked  for  him  on  the  "  tenth  denj  of  the 
month,"   burning   their  lamps  constantly,  which  gave  a 


364  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

brilliant  light  till  that  day  which  brought  them  into 
the  middle  watch  of  the  Jewish  year,  and  alas,  alas  !  in 
'midnight  darkness  relative  to  the  time  of  the  second  ad- 
vent. Many  of  these  men  and  women  turned  infidels. 
Rev.  E.  Jacobs  joined  the  Shakers,  but  was  so  corrupt 
that  they  soon  expelled  him;  and  Rev.  "William  Mil- 
ler has  since  deceased,  but  his  "  works  do  follow  hiin." 
Deluded  man !  Before  his  death  he  published  a  card,  in 
which  he  says : 

"The  causes  which  required  God's  chastening  hand 
upon  us  were,  in  my  humble  opinion,  pride,  fanaticism, 
and  sectarianism.  Pride  worked  in  many  ways.  We 
ascribed  our  conquest  in  argument  over  our  opponents  to 
ourselves.  We  were  seeking  the  honors  and  applause  of 
men  more  than  of  God.  We  were  some  of  us  seeking  to 
be  leaders  instead  of  being  servants — boasting  too  much 
of  our  doings. 

11  Fanaticism. — I  know  our  enemies  accused  us  of  this 
before  we  were  guilty,  but  this  did  not  excuse  us  for  run- 
ning into  it.  A  thousand  expressions  were  used  without 
thought  or  reflection,  and  I  thought  sometimes  very  irrev- 
erently. 

"  Sectarianism. — We  have  adopted  the  very  things  we 
condemned  in  others,  crying  Babylon !  Babylon !  Baby- 
lon !  against  all  but  Adventists." 

I  close  this  chapter  by  asking  all  of  my  readers  to  ad- 
here to  the  instructions  given  in  Matthew  as  to  "times 
and  seasons." 


CHAPTER    LVI. 

TEMPTATION    AND    VICTORY. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of I  was  tempted ; 

thought  I  had  lost  all  my  "unction/'  and  greatly  desiied 


TEMPTATION    AND    VICTORY.  365 

an  opportunity  to  preach  the  G-ospel  in  other  parts.  Af- 
ter preaching  twice  in  my  own  station  on  Sabbath  I  start- 
ed in  a  sleigh  early  on  3Ionday  morning  to  meet  Rev. 
J.  F.  W.  at  his  quarterly  meeting  in  the  village  of  Lex- 
ington, some  twelve  miles  distant.  I  wished  to  reach 
there  in  time  to  preach  for  him  at  nine  o'clock,  but  was 
disappointed.  On  my  entering  the  church  he  had  just 
closed  the  sermon,  and  was  preparing  to  administer  the 
sacrament.  My  soul  was  sad  and  cast  down  within  me  at 
the  thought  of  having  to  return  without  an  opportunity 
to  preach.  During  the  services  brother  W.  remarked,  "I 
am  sorry  you  did  not  get  here  in  time  to  preach.  I  know 
the  people  would  like  to  hear  you."  I  replied,  "No  one, 
I  suppose,  is  as  much  disappointed  as  myself.  I  am  frank 
enough  to  tell  you  I  desire  an  opportunity  to  preach 
much  more  ardently,  I  suppose,  than  any  one  wishes  to 
hear  me."  On  my  saying  this,  brother  W.  smiled  benig- 
nantly,  and  said,  "0,  well,  perhaps  I  can  arrange  it  for 
you  yet."  At  the  close  of  the  sacramental  services,  broth- 
er W.  remarked  to  the  congregation  that  the  stationed 
minister  from  H.  was  present,  and  if  they  wished  to  hear 
him  preach  he  was  very  willing  to  serve  them  before  he 
returned  home  in  the  afternoon.  They  all  signified  a 
willingness  to  stay  provided  I  would  agree  to  preach  im- 
mediately after  dinner.  The  hour  was  arranged  for  half 
past  one  o'clock.  "We  all  went  up  into  the  village  and 
partook  of  a  little  refreshment,  and  repaired  to  the  old 
frame  church  at  the  appointed  time  for  the  service.  1 
felt  deeply  humbled  before  the  Lord,  and  my  inward  cry 
was,  "I  beseech  thee  show  me  thy  glory."  I  stood  in 
the  altar,  feeling  such  a  sense  of  unworthiness  that  I  did 
not  wish  to  go  into  the  pulpit.  I  took  a  plain  text,  and 
discoursed  on  a  familiar  subject.  I  had  not  proceeded 
far  till  "I  heard  the  sound  of  a  going  in  the  tops  of  the 
mulberry  trees."     When  about  half-way  through  my  ser- 


366         i1  00  T  -PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

mon  the  Spirit  of  God  took  hold  of  the  heart  of  a  sinner 
who  was  sitting  near  the  center  of  the  church.  He  soon 
began  to  shake  like  one  of  old  while  the  apostle  was  rea- 
soning of  " righteousness,  temperance,  and  a  judgment  to 
come."  At  length  he  lifted  up  his  voice  and  wept  aloud, 
and  afterward  rose  up  and  walked  out  into  the  aisle, 
wringing  his  hands  in  deep  anguish  of  spirit.  I  took  no 
notice  of  him,  but  continued  to  preach  with  an  unusual 
degree  of  liberty  and  divine  unction,  till  this  poor 
" awakened  sinner"  sprang  more  than  his  whole  length, 
at  one  jump,  toward  the  altar,  grasped  the  railing  with 
his  hands,  and  fell  on  his  knees  in  the  most  imploring 
attitude,  crying  out,  " 0,  what  shall  I  do,  what  shall  I  do? 
0,  my  God  and  Savior,  what  shall  I  do  to  be  saved?"  At 
this  juncture  I  stopped  suddenly  and  stepped  upon  the 
bench  in  the  altar,  and  said  to  him  as  follows:  "Do  you 
come  here  to  ask  me  'what  you  shall  do?'  I  thank  my 
God  on  your  behalf,  that  I  am  commissioned  by  my  divine 
Master  to  say  to  you,  '  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  thou  shalt  be  saved;'"  and  then,  lifting  up  my  hand 
toward  heaven,  I  exclaimed,  "  Behold,  I  bring  you  glad 
tidings!"  "Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time!  Behold, 
now  is  the  day  of  salvation  !"  I  could  add  no  more.  The 
congregation  simultaneously  rose  to  their  feet,  and  some 
shouted  aloud  for  joy,  and  others  cried  to  God  for  mercy. 
As  soon  as  I  could  be  heard,  I  said,  "Let  us  all  pray;" 
and  every  one,  young  and  old,  saints  and  sinners,  got 
down  upon  their  knees.  As  the  afternoon  was  now  far 
spent,  and  the  snow  melting  fast,  I  took  my  hat  and  cloak 
and  stepped  out  as  silently  as  I  could,  and  started  for 
home  in  my  sleigh,  while  the  congregation  were  still 
"agonizing"  in  fervent  prayer.  T  had  scarcely  got  out 
of  sight  of  the  church  before  God  set  the  soul  of  the 
struggling  penitent,  who  had  kneeled  outside  of  the  altar, 
at   perfect   liberty   by   the   blood   of   his  Son.      I   look 


OAKLAND    FEMALE    SEMINARY.  367 

back  to  this  reminiscence  as  one  of  the  greenest  spots  in 
memory's  waste. 

OAKLAND   FEMALE    SEMINAR!. 

The  Oakland  Female  Seminary  is  located  at  Hillsboro. 
It  was  organized  May,  1839,  and  incorporated  by  the  Ohio 
Legislature,  February,  1843,  with  power  to  confer  diplo- 
mas and  literary  honors.  It  is,  therefore,  in  fact,  a  "  Fe- 
male College."  The  title  "  Mistress  of  English  Litera- 
ture" will  hereafter  be  conferred  on  those  who  complete 
the  ordinary  English  course,  and  the  title  "Miss  of  Lib- 
eral Arts"  on  those  who  study  the  Latin  and  Greek  lan- 
guages in  addition  to  the  English  course.  None  gradua- 
ted at  this  Seminary  till  the  summer  of  1843,  at  which 
time  four  young  ladies  received  the  highest  honors  of  the 
echool.  The  following  tabular  view  will  give  the  number 
each  succeeding  year : 


1843 

1844 

4 

3 

6 

5 

1847 

1848 

3 

5 

1851 

1852 

1^53 

1854 

6 

7 

1845 

1846 

1849 

1850 

6 

9 

11 

10 

Making  the  total  number  of  graduates  eighty-five.  Twen- 
ty-six of  these  graduates,  and  thirty-one  other  pupils  of 
this  Seminary,  have  engaged  in  teaching  after  leaving 
echool.  One,  Miss  Mary  J.  Bowen,  has  been  a  missionary 
among  the  Creek  Indians.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  witness- 
ing the  conversion  of  a  large  number  of  the  young  ladies 
connected  with  this  institution  during  the  two  years  that 
I  labored  in  H.  Six  of  the  graduates  have  gone  to  an- 
other and  happier  clime.  The  number  of  pupils  has 
varied  in  different  years  from  seventy-six  to  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six.  The  number,  of  late,  is  not  as  large  as 
usual,  owing  to  the  improved  condition  of  the  public* 
schools  in  Hillsboro;  but  a  larger  number  are  from  abroad 
than  at  any  former  period.  Many  will  not  come  unless 
they  can  board  with  the  Principal.     This  has  been  a  hin 


368  FOOT-PRINTS    OF   an    itinerant. 

derance  to  the  prosperity  of  the  school  from  the  begin 
nijg.  But  this  difficulty  will  soon  be  obviated.  A  large 
and  beautiful  edifice  will  be  erected  during  the  next  year 
The  main  building  is  to  be  ninety  feet  long  and  forty 
five  feet  wide,  and  three  stories  high.  The  L  will  be  sixty 
by  thirty-five,  and  two  and  one-half  stories  high.  The 
upper  story  of  the  main  building  will  be  the  dormitory 
Teachers  and  pupils  are  to  sleep  in  the  same  room,  in 
single  beds;  and  the  room  occupied  by  sleeping  alone. 
This  is  the  plan  of  the  English  and  French  boarding- 
schools,  and  is  thought  by  many  to  be  the  best  way  to 
preserve  good  order  and  prevent  all  mischief.  The  cost 
of  the  new  building  is  estimated  at  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  title  will  be  changed  from  Oakland  Female 
Seminary  to  Hillsboro  Female  College.  Rev.  Joseph 
M'Dowell  Mathews  has  been  the  Principal  of  this  school 
from  its  commencement.  He  is  a  popular  teacher,  and 
has  a  strong  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the  citizens  of 
Hillsboro  generally.  He  is  a  good  man  and  true.  My 
intercourse  with  him  during  my  connection  with  the  sta- 
tion was  always  agreeable  and  profitable  to  myself. 
Brother  Mathews  is  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  came  to 
Hillsboro  and  commenced  teaching  in  the  Hillsboro 
Academy  in  October,  1827.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
that  institution  of  learning.  In  the  fall  of  1831  he  gave 
up  the  school  and  joined  the  Ohio  annual  conference. 
His  first  appointment  was  Chillicothe  station,  where  he 
remained  two  years.  In  1833  he  was  stationed  in  Cincin- 
nati with  Doctor  Sargent — who  died  in  the  pulpit  on 
Christmas  day.  Doctor  Trimble,  Be  v.  J.  B.  Finley,  Bev. 
John  Collins,  were  his  colleagues.  During  the  winter  the 
health  of  brother  M.  failed  entirely,  and  in  April,  1834, 
he  left  the  city.  During  the  summer  his  health  was  par- 
tially restored,  and  in  the  fall  he  purchased  a  farm  near 
Hillsboro,  and    labored   as   much  as  he  was   able.     By 


OAKLAND    FEMALE    SEMINARY.  369 

this  means  his  health  gradually  improved.  In  the  fall  of 
1834  he  located,  but  was  readmitted  a  year  or  two  after- 
ward to  act  as  agent  of  Augusta  College,  but  was  only 
able  to  serve  the  institution  efficiently  for  about  two 
months.  At  the  next  annual  conference  he  again  located. 
In  the  spring  of  1839  he  commenced  the  Oakland 
Female  Seminary,  where  he  has  labored  most  efficiently 
for  the  last  sixteen  years.  Eight  years  ago,  at  the  session 
of  our  conference  at  Columbus,  brother  M.  was  readmit- 
ted into  the  traveling  connection,  by  the  unanimous  con- 
sent of  his  brethren.  He  is  an  eloquent  minister,  but  in 
consequence  of  a  bronchial  derangement  he  is  unable  to 
preach  regularly. 

In  the  year  1845  the  unfortunate  division  between  the 
north  and  south  transpired.  I  had  several  dear  friends  in 
the  ministry  that  finally  united  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  South.  It  grieved  my  heart  to  part  with  them, 
especially  with  one  who  had  been  my  colleague  for  two 
years.  I  loved  him  as  Jonathan  loved  David,  and  as  years 
roll  away  he  still  has  a  warm  place  in  my  affections.  "We 
soon  came  to  an  understanding  to'"  agree  to  disagree,"  and 
pray  for  each  other's  welfare.  An  honest  difference  of 
opinion  should  not  destroy  a  "brotherly  affection"  among 
Christian  ministers  or  private  members  of  the  Church  of 
God.  My  neighbor's  garden  may  contain  many  fragrant 
roses  and  beautiful  flowers,  although  the  entrance  to  it  or 
the  internal  arrangements  may  differ  from  my  own.  As 
Mr.  Charles  Wesley  said  to  Whitefield,  "Friends  of  jar 
ring  sentiments  may  agree." 

"  Not  in  party's  narrow  banks  confined, 
Not  by  sameness  of  opinion  joined ; 
But  cemented  with  a  Redeemer's  blood, 
Are  bound  together  in  the  beart  of  God." 

The  following  beautiful  letter  from  a  beloved  minister 
in  the  south,  written  not  long  after  the  final  separation 


370         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

breathes  the  true  spirit  of  a  Christian.  I  feel  it  a  pleas- 
ure to  record  it  in  my  "  Foot-Prints." 

"My  Dear  Brother  Gaddis, — Mason  and  Dixon's 
line  is  between  your  beautiful  residence  and  the  town  of 

.     You  are  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 

I  am  now  a  humble  member  and  minister  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church  South.  But  are  there  any  reasons 
why  'old  acquaintance  should  be  forgot  and  days  of  auld 
lang  syne?'  Though  my  position  with  regard  to  certain 
principles  of  Church  policy  is  changed  in  a  slight  de- 
gree— though  my  relation  to  the  Church  is  different  from 
what  it  was  a  few  months  ago — though  many  miles  sepa- 
rate us,  yet  my  heart  is  still  the  same,  and  my  Christian 
friendship  and  brotherly  love  for  Maxwell  is  just  as  warm 
as  it  ever  was.  And  although  we  labor  in  different  fields, 
and  receive  our  appointments  from  different  bishops,  yet 
it  is  the  same  great  vineyard.  We  labor  for  a  common 
Master;  we  have  a  common  cross,  and  receive  strength 
and  grace  through  the  same  blessed  Spirit.  We  kneel  at 
the  same  mercy-seat,  and  repeat  the  same  beautiful 
words:  'Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  thy 
name.' 

"Then,  as  we  bear  that  cross  and  labor  for  that  'Father/ 
and  look  with  joyful  anticipations  to  that  bright  heaven 
where 

'  We  may  meet  at  Jesus'  feet,' 

why  may  we  not  forget  all  differences  of  opinion,  and 
grasp  each  other's  hand  as  erst  we  did  when  we  cultivated 
the  same  fields?  I  was  truly  rejoiced  when  I  received  your 
kind  letter,  professing  the  continuance  of  your  Christian 
regards  and  personal  friendship.  I  had  met  so  many 
darkened  brows  and  cold  looks  that  I  began  to  think  that 
in  the  eyes  of  my  brethren  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  I  was  viewed  as  a  reprobate,  beyond  the  reach  of 


THE    EFFECTS    OF    INTEMPERANCE.         371 

mercy,  and  lost  to  hope.  I  was  glad  to  see  your  charity 
would  still  allow  you  to  recognize  me  as  a  brother  and 
Christian  minister.  I  am  much  pleased  with  the  spirit 
of  the  Southern  Church  so  far  as  I  have  seen  it  developed. 
I  hear  no  bitter  denunciations  of  character.  I  hear  no 
foul  epithets  applied  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  the  north,  as  a  body,  nor  to  the  members  of  that 
Church  as  individuals.  The  worst  I  have  heard  said  is, 
that  Drs.  Elliott,  Bond,  and  Bangs  are  '  abolitionists.' 
The  prevailing  sentiment  here  is — Let  us  have  peace;  if 
we  can  not  agree  on  Church  government  in  all  things,  let 
us  ' agree  to  disagree'  on  that,  and  unite  at  least  in 
preaching  a  crucified  Redeemer,  and  try  and  keep  the 
devil  from  triumphing  over  our  misfortunes.  Let  us  all, 
at  the  north  and  south,  go  in  for  a  universal  and  over- 
whelming revival  of  religion.  0,  that  this  was  the  spirit 
all  over  these  lands !  Would  to  God  that  every  Method- 
ist preacher,  itinerant  and  local,  would  say,  and  that  in 
truth,  'I  am  determined  to  know  nothing  but  Christ  and 
him  crucified !'  Would  that  all  our  editors  had  it  written 
in  capitals  over  all  their  editorials!  Then,  indeed, 
might  we  expect  to  see  our  Church  discharging  her 
duties,  and  fulfilling  the  legitimate  functions  of  her 
calling — l  spreading  Scriptural  holiness  all  over  these 
lands.'  God  hasten  the  day  when  the  Church  shali 
learn  war  no  more  !' " 


CHAPTER    LVII. 

THE    EFFECTS    OF    INTEMPERANCE. 

While  residing  at  H.,  at  the  still  and  quiet  hour  of 
midnight  I  was  aroused  from  my  slumbers  by  a  loud  rap 
at  the  front  door.     I  opened  the  window  and  looked  out, 


372         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

and,  by  the  light  of  the  stars,  recognized  Mr.  B.,  one 
of  my  nearest  neighbors,  who  kept  a  small  bakery  and 
beer  saloon  just  across  the  alley.  I  inquired  what  he 
wanted.  He  replied  that  he  wished  me  to  come  over 
immediately,  and  pray  with  a  sick  man  who  was  sup- 
posed to  be  dying.  I  arose  and  followed  him  without  a 
moment's  delay.  I  passed  through  the  drinking  apart- 
ments into  an  adjoining  room.  Here  lay  a  fine-looking 
man,  full  six  feet  in  stature.  He  was  a  Virginian  by 
birth,  but,  for  several  years  past,  a  resident  of  H.,  and 
a  township  officer.  About  sundown,  or  in  the  early  part 
of  the  evening,  he  called  at  that  grocery,  or  saloon,  to 
get  something  to  drink.  He  saw  a  jug  standing  upon 
the  counter  with  a  cork  in  it;  he  pulled  out  the  cork 
and  smelled  it,  and  said  to  Mr.  B.,  "  Well,  as  you  have 
refused  to  give  me  something  to  drink,  I  will  take  a 
dram  out  of  this  gentleman's  jug."  A  voice  of  warning 
was  instantly  heard  behind  him,  saying,  "Let  that  jug 
alone,  sir  j  it  contains  a  portion  of  prussic  acid !"  But 
the  warning  voice  was  disregarded.  The  poor  inebriate 
smelled  the  fumes  of  the  liquor  in  which  the  poisonous 
drug  was  put,  and  such  was  his  thirst  for  another  dram 
that,  before  any  one  could  prevent  him,  the  fatal  po- 
tion was  eagerly  swallowed,  and  it  was  not  long  before  he 
was  seized  with  the  agonies  of  death.  "When  I  entered 
the  room  he  was  in  deep  distress  of  mind;  he  felt  that 
he  was  a  great  sinner,  and  must  soon  appear  before  his 
God.  I  prayed  with  him,  and  exhorted  him  to  repent 
and  employ  the  few  hours  that  yet  remained  in  trying  to 
make  preparation  to  meet  his  justly-offended  God.  At 
times  he  would  cry  out,  "  0,  my  poor  wife  and  helpless 
children,  what  will  become  of  them  !"  Poor  man !  he 
had  a  helpless  wife  and  six  children  that  were  dependent 
upon  his  efforts  for  daily  bread;  but  now,  by  his  love  of 
strong  drink,  he  fell  in  "  manhood's  prime,"  the  volun- 


THE    EFFECTS    OF    INTEMPERANCE.        373 

tary  victim  of  his  own  folly.  He  died  early  the  next 
day,  a  most  pitiful  and  excruciating  death.  This  melan- 
choly occurrence  produced  an  intense  excitement  in  the 
community;  but  it  soon  subsided,  and  the  widow  and  her 
six  helpless  children  were  soon  forgotten.  It  is  true,  a 
" civil  action"  was  frequently  spoken  of,  and  all  were 
loud  in  their  condemnation  of  those  who  were  considered 
accessory  to  his  death. 

A  few  months  after  the  death  of  this  unfortunate 
man,  another  more  tragic  and  deeply-affecting  circum- 
stance transpired  in  our  midst.  A  Mrs.  M'C.,  for  sev- 
eral years,  was  gradually  wasting  away  by  a  pulmonary 
affection.  I  formed  her  acquaintance  a  short  time  after 
I  commenced  my  pastoral  labors  in  the  town  of  H.  Mr. 
M'C.  was  an  excellent  tradesman,  and  competent  to  pro- 
vide a  good  living  for  his  wife  and  children,  but,  by 
intemperance,  had  disqualified  himself  for  carrying  on 
the  saddlery  business  any  longer.  He  moved  from  one 
house  to  another,  and  from  one  town  to  another,  till  his 
reputation  and  means  were  all  squandered,  and  the  con- 
stitution of  his  delicate  wife  completely  broken.  At 
length  they  were  compelled  to  quit  keeping  house,  and 
sister  M'C.  took  lodgings  with  a  near  relative,  who,  at 
this  time,  was  the  keeper  of  the  county  jail,  and  lived  in 
the  prison  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  from  my 
boarding-house.  Her  drunken  companion  left  her  to 
take  care  of  herself,  while  he  continued  to  lounge  about 
the  bar-rooms  and  drinking-saloons  of  the  town.  After 
sister  M'C.  was  confined  to  bed,  her  decline  was  very 
rapid.  It  was  my  privilege  to  visit  her  often,  and  unite 
with  her  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving.  They  were  once  a 
happy  family.  Her  husband  was  frugal  and  industrious, 
and,  although  he  had  ruined  himself  by  hard  drink,  I 
discovered  that  she  clung  to  him  with  womanly  affection. 
Not  a  murmur  escaped  from   her  lips.     Although  sur- 


374         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

rounded  by  poverty,  and  dependent  on  the  kindness  of 
friends  for  support  in  the  last  days  of  her  life,  she  en- 
joyed 

"  The  eternal  sunshine  of  the  spotless  mind, 
Each  prayer  accepted,  and  each  wish  resigned." 

Fifteen  years'  painful  experience  as  the  wife  of  a  drunk- 
ard, had  taught  her  to  trust  not  in  "  an  arm  of  flesh," 
but  in  the  living  God.  A  sad  and  mournful  expression 
was  stamped  upon  her  countenance  whenever  she  re- 
called to  mind  the  trials  through  which  she  had  been 
called  to  pass;  but  the  path  of  sorrow,  if  we  are  the 
children  of  God,  "  leads  to  the  land  where  sorrow  is  un- 
known. "  She  was  now  evidently  drawing  near  the  close 
of  her  pilgrimage  J  all  the  days  of  her  appointed  time 
were  numbered;  the  fatal  malady  was  making  rapid 
progress,  but  her  prospect  of  future  bliss  was  cheering. 
Her  confidence  was  unshaken  by  the  near  approach  of 
the  king  of  terrors ;  the  horrors  of  the  wilderness  were 
behind  her,  and  now  she  stood  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
of  Jordan, 

"  A  weary  pilgrim,  sighing  for  the  rest  to  come." 

I  visited  her  late  on  Saturday.  That  night  she  en- 
tered heaven,  amid  the  songs  of  angels  and  the  greetings 
of  kindred  friends.  On  Sabbath  afternoon  she  was  fol- 
lowed to  the  grave  by  the  members  of  our  Church  and  a 
very  large  concourse  of  the  citizens. 

But  I  must  hasten  to  give  the  contrast.  There  is  a 
darker  shade  to  this  picture  than  I  have  yet  portrayed — 
a  most  gloomy  one,  that  I  would  gladly  forget  if  I  could 
It  presents  the  close  of  their  lives,  as  wife  and  husband, 
in  fearful  contrast.  "When  Mrs.  M'C.  was  dying,  a  mes- 
senger was  sent  after  her  husband,  but  he  refused  to 
come,  although  she  greatly  desired  to  see  him.  At  the 
mention  of  her  name  he  wept  like  a  child,  yet,  strange 


THE    EFFECTS    OF    INTEMPERANCE.         375 

to  relate,  lie  refused  to  see  her  die,  notwithstanding  the 
importunities  of  her  relatives.  On  Sabbath  morning, 
when  told  that  she  was  dead,  he  lifted  up  his  voice  and 
wept  aloud,  and  upbraided  himself  for  such  cruel  treat- 
ment and  long-continued  neglect  of  one  so  confiding  and 
forgiving.  He  then  poured  fiery  anathemas  upon  the 
rumsellers  who  had  contributed  to  his  ruin.  Early  in 
the  morning  he  was  seen  coming  out  from  a  whisky-shop, 
wringing  his  hands  in  deep  anguish  of  spirit,  exclaim- 
ing, in  an  audible  voice,  as  he  walked  down  the  middle 
of  the  street,  "  0,  who  will  care  for  me  now !  While  my 
poor  wife  lived,  bad  as  I  was,  there  was  one,  still  one 
left  to  care  for  me  in  my  misery;  but,  alas!  alas!  the 
only  true  friend,  and  the  last  friend  I  have  in  this  wide 
world,  is  now  numbered  with  the  dead."  His  friends 
urged  him  to  go  to  the  funeral  and  see  her  buried,  but 
he  obstinately  refused.  While  we  were  performing  the 
sad  funeral  obsequies,  he  was  walking  about  the  streets, 
" seeking  rest,  but  finding  none."  He  was  almost  con- 
stantly bewailing  his  lonely  and  wretched  condition; 
indeed,  his  grief  was  deep  and  poignant.  He  "refused 
to  be  comforted  f  he  declared,  to  all  who  conversed 
with  him,  that  he  was  now  forsaken  of  God  and  man. 
Just  before  we  returned  from  the  grave,  he  came  down 
to  the  house  where  she  died,  and  took  a  seat  on  the 
stone-step  in  front  of  the  door.  He  wept  aloud,  and 
continued  to  exclaim,  for  some  time,  uMg  only  earthly 
friend  is  now  gone  to  the  grave — who,  0,  who,  who,  who 
will  care  for  me  now?  Not  one!  not  one!"  He  was, 
indeed,  the  very  picture  of  despair;  remorse  and  anguish 
were  drinking  up  his  spirits.  For  many  years  he  had 
sowed  to  the  wind,  and  now  he  was  "reaping  the  whirl- 
wind." Fear  took  fast  hold  upon  him,  the  pains  of  hell 
seized  him,  and,  in  a  wild  state,  bordering  on  frenzy  or 
madness,  he  arose  and  ran  up  stairs  into  the  room  where 


376  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

his  wife  expired,  and  seized  a  vial  of  laudanum,  which 
he  had  procured  for  his  wife  some  time  previous  to  her 
death,  and  swallowed  the  entire  contents.  He  exclaimed, 
after  taking  it,  "Why  should  I  desire  to  live?  I  have 
no  one  to  care  for  me.  My  only  friend  is  dead  and 
buried;  I  have  now  no  desire  to  live  any  longer."  He 
soon  sank  down  into  a  state  of  coma. 

In  about  twenty  minutes  after  he  had  taken  the  lauda- 
num, I  was  called  over  to  see  him.  It  was  a  most  excit- 
ing scene.  The  physicians  of  the  place  tried  various 
remedies  to  counteract  the  effects  of  the  fatal  drug,  but 
they  were  all  ineffectual.  About  sundown  he  was  re- 
moved, upon  a  cot,  to  an  untenanted  house,  where  he 
expired  about  midnight.  He  was  attended,  during  his 
last  hours,  by  some  half  a  dozen  kindred  spirits,  who 
spent  the  remaining  hours  of  the  night  in  singing  songs 
and  mirthful  "  story-telling "  around  his  lifeless  corpse. 
He  was  interred  the  next  morning  at  ten  o'clock.  As 
the  procession  moved  out  to  the  place  of  interment,  I 
was  struck  with  the  contrast.  At  the  burial  of  sister 
M'C.  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  hundreds  of  the  best  men 
and  women  of  the  town,  and  vicinage,  were  in  attend- 
ance; while  the  remains  of  her  husband  were  followed  to 
the  grave  by  about  twelve  or  thirteen  men.  Not  a  lady 
was  to  be  seen  in  the  funeral  procession,  not  even  his 
own  relatives. 

"No  drunkard  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  Grod;" 
but  add  to  drunkenness  the  crime  of  self-murder,  how 
dark  the  picture  !  how  terrible  a  coming  retribution !  0, 
what  domestic  sorrow  and  wretchedness  is  occasioned  by 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors !  How  it  breaks  the 
harmony  of  the  family  circle  !  Who  but  God  that  seeth 
the  heart  can  count  the  tears  and  agonies  of  a  heart- 
broken wife — the  innocent  and  unoffending  wife  of  the 
drunkard !      How   fearful    to    contemplate    the    ravages 


THE    EFFECTS    OF    INTEMPERANCE.        377 

which  the  infernal  spirit  of  rum  is  making  in  the  hearts 
and  nomes  of  multitudes  !  How  it  consumes  all  that  is 
lovely  in  human  character,  and  implants  in  its  stead  the 
most  hideous  passions  !  It  disregards  that  holiest  tie,  a 
mother's  love,  and  strongest  restraint,  a  mother's  influ- 
ence. These  all  have  failed  to  prevent  many  a  child 
from  ruin  by  the  vice  of  intemperance.  There  is  not 
one  bright  page  upon  record  of  its  progress — nothing  to 
shield  it  from  the  heartiest  execration  of  the  human 
race.  But  my  pen  is  too  feeble  to  portray  the  evils  of 
intemperance.  Portray  the  evils  of  intemperance,  did  I 
say!  He  does  not  live  that  can  tell  the  whole  story  of 
its  woes !  Exaggeration  is  impossible.  The  boldest 
fancy  falters  in  its  flight  before  it  comes  up  to  the  fact; 
the  mind's  eye  can  not  take  in  the  countless  miseries  of 
its  hapless  victims;  no  human  art  can  put  into  that  pic- 
ture shades  darker  than  the  truth.  "Put  upon  canvas  a 
picture  of  every  conceivable  thing  terrible  or  revolting; 
paint  health  in  ruins,  hope  destroyed,  affections  crushed, 
prayer  silenced;  paint  the  chosen  seats  of  paternal  care, 
of  filial  piety,  of  brotherly  love,  of  maternal  devotion — 
all,  all  vacant !  Paint  all  the  crimes,  of  every  form  and 
every  hue,  from  murder  standing  aghast  over  a  grave 
which  it  has  no  means  to  cover,  down  to  the  meanest  de- 
ception, still  confident  of  success  ;  paint  home  a  desert. 
and  shame  a  tyrant,  and  poverty  the  legitimate  child  of 
vice  in  every  community,  and  not  its  prolific  mother;  paint 
the  dark  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  peopled  with 
living  slaves;  paint  a  landscape  with  trees  whose  fruit  is 
poison,  and  whose  shade  is  death,  with  mountain  tor- 
rents tributary  to  an  ocean  whose  very  waves  are  fire, 
and  put  into  the  most  distant  background  the  vanishing 
vision  of  a  blessed  past,  and  into  the  foreground  the  ter- 
rible certainty  of  an  accursed  future !  Paint  prison, 
with  doors  that  only  open  inward;  people  the  scene  with 


378  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

men  whose  shattered  forms  are  tenanted  by  tormented 
souls;  with  children,  upon  whose  lips  no  smile  can  play 
and  with  women,  into  whose  cheeks  furrows  have  beer: 
burnt  by  tears,  wrung  by  anguish  from  broken  hearts 
Paint  such  a  picture,  and  when  you  are  ready  to  show  it, 
do  not  let  in  the  rays  of  the  heavenly  sun,  but  illuminate 
it  with  the  glares  of  infernal  fires,  and  still  you  will  bo 
bound  to  say  the  horrible  picture  falls  short  of  the  dread- 
ful reality." 


CHAPTER   LVIII. 

BETHEL     CHAPEL,     THIRD     WARD,     CINCINNATI. 

In  the  fall  of  1846  I  was  appointed  to  Bethel  Chapel, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  This  church  was  situated  in  the  third 
ward,  on  Front- street,  with  the  view  of  affording  the 
means  of  grace  to  our  western  boatmen.  Through  the 
indefatigable  labors  of  a  few  noble  spirits  a  lot  had  been 
procured,  and  the  walls  of  the  new  chapel  erected  before 
my  appointment.  But  on  my  arrival  in  the  city  I  found 
the  friends  of  the  good  cause  much  discouraged;  and 
after  making  diligent  inquiry  "concerning  those  who 
had  escaped  which  were  left  of  the  captivity,  and  con- 
cerning Jerusalem,"  I  was  called  to  a  severe  trial  of 
my  faith,  and,  like  the  prophet  Nehemiah,  I  sat  down 
and  wept  and  mourned  certain  days,  and  fasted  and 
prayed  before  the  God  of  heaven.  On  the  20th  day  of 
September,  1846,  I  was  conducted  to  a  large  brick  build- 
ing in  Cassilly's  Row,  on  Front-street,  east  of  Broadway, 
and,  after  a  fatiguing  ascent  by  a  winding  series  of  steps, 
forty-four  in  number,  I  was  ushered  into  the  attic  story, 
where  I  was  shown  a  large  upper  room  "  furnished  and 
prepared."     This  was  the  old  Bethel,  where  the  mission 


CINCINNATI.  379 

was  first  commenced  and  a  Sabbath  school  organized. 
I  found  a  small  company  of  true  believers  anxiously 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  their  new  pastor.  Xever  shall  1 
forget  the  feelings  I  experienced  while  ascending  the 
stairway;  I  was  almost  exhausted  before  I  reached  the 
top,  and,  on  getting  to  the  pulpit,  I  panted  for  breath 
like  one  who  had  been  running  a  race.  x^.fter  resting  a 
little  while,  I  opened  my  mission  from  these  words — 
Pslam  xx,  5 — "In  the  name  of  our  God  we  will  set  up 
our  banners."  Before  the  close  of  the  service  we  all 
felt  that  we  were  brought  into  his  banqueting-house,  and 
his  banner  over  us  was  love.  The  faith  of  the  little 
society  was  increased,  and  nearly  all  of  them  came  for- 
ward and  bid  me  welcome  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and 
pledged  themselves  to  aid  me  by  their  prayers.  At  an 
early  period  I  heartily  co-operated  with  the  indefatigable 
board  of  trustees  in  urging  forward  to  immediate  com- 
pletion the  new  chapel,  which  had  been  erected  and 
inclosed  during  the  past  summer. 

"The  good  hand  of  our  God  was  upon  us"  and  pros- 
pered us  exceedingly,  even  beyond  the  expectation  of 
our  most  sanguine  friends.  Our  new  Bethel  was  ready 
for  worship  on  the  8th  day  of  November.  The  benevo- 
lent ladies  of  the  3Iethodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
city  presented  us  with  money  to  purchase  carpets  for  the 
altar  and  aisles,  and  also  a  beautiful  flag,  which  was 
unfurled  from  the  top  of  the  building.  As  soon  as  the 
church  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  almighty  God,  we 
sent  out  the  invitation  in  every  part  of  the  third  ward 
and  along  the  river  shores,  "Come,  for  all  things  are 
now  ready."  Before  leaving  the  "old  attic,"  east  of 
Broadway,  the  clouds  of  mercy  had  gathered  over  us. 
I  shall  never  forget  a  meeting  held  there  on  a  rainy 
night.  I  was  reluctant  to  go,  thinking  no  one  would 
De  there,  the  night  was  so  dark  and  rainy.     I  went  to 


380  FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

the  door  of  my  board ing-house  and  turned  back,  but  my 
good  host,  brother  Richard  Ashcraft,  took  hold  of  me 
and  literally  compelled  me  to  go.  On  our  arrival  at  the 
head  of  the  stairs,  I  was  surprised  to  find  a  pretty  good 
company  of  both  men  and  women  assembled  to  hear 
the  word  of  life.  I  stood  on  the  altar  and  preached  for 
about  thirty  minutes,  and  then  opened  the  doors  of  the 
Church,  and,  to  my  astonishment,  nearly  every  uncon- 
verted person  in  the  house  joined  the  Church.  As 
soon  as  the  new  house  was  opened  for  worship  I  had  a 
neat,  ornamented  card,  nine  inches  by  twelve  in  length, 
printed,  with  the  following  inscription,  and  framed,  and 
hung  up  in  the  hotels,  steamboats,  and  coffee-houses : 

BETHEL 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

CINCINNATI,  OHIO. 

This  beautiful  brick  chapel  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  East 

Front-street,  between  Pike  and  Butler  streets,  a  short 

distance  below  Deer  creek  stone  bridge. 

This  new  and  elegant  building  has  been  erected  during  the  last 

year.     It  is  fifty  by  eigh'y  feet  in  length,  and  furnished 

in  the  very  best  style,  and  will  accommodate 

a  very  large  congregation. 

HOURS    OF    REGULAR     WORSHIP. 

Preaching  every  Sabbath  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.j  and   half-past 
six  o'clock,  P.  M. 

SABBATH     SCHOOL 

Meets  every  Sabbath  at  two  o'clock,  P.  If. 

PRATER     MEETING 

Every  Wednesday  evening  at  half-past  six  o'clock. 

"  And  many  people  shall  go  and  say,  Come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up 
into  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  to  the  [Bethel]  house  of  the  God  of 
Jacob;  and  he  will  teach  us  of  his  ways."     Isaiah  ii,  3. 

"I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me,  Let  us  go  into  the  house 
:>f  the  Lord."     Psalm  cxxii,  1. 


BETHEL    CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI.  381 

"  For  a  day  in  thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thousand.  I  had  rather 
be  a  door-keeper  in  the  house  of  my  God,  than  to  dwell  in  the 
tents  of  wickedness."     Psalm  lxxxiv,  10. 

"They  shall  ask  the  way  to  Zion  with  their  faces  thitherward, 
saying,  Come  and  let  us  join  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in  a  perpetual 
covenant  that  shall  not  be  forgotten."     Jeremiah  1,  5. 

"  We  will  go  with  you:  for  we  have  heard  that  God  is  with  you." 
Zechariah  viii,  23. 

"  These  temples  of  his  grace, 
How  beautiful  they  stand  ! 
The  honors  of  our  native  place, 
And  bulwarks  of  our  land ! 

In  every  new  distress 

We'll  to  thy  house  repair; 
We'll  think  upon  thy  wondrous  grace, 

And  seek  deliverance  there." 

Maxwell  P.  Gaddis,  Pastor. 

Resides  on  Third-street,  between  Lawrence  and  Pike,  at  Mr 
E  ichard  Ashcraft's. 

This  card  was  the  means  of  attracting  hundreds  to  our 
new  chapel,  and  it  was  not  long  till  "  the  glory  of  the 
latter  house  was  greater  than  the  former."  The  altar 
was  soon  crowded  with  broken-hearted  penitents,  and  the 
spacious  edifice  crowded  every  night  to  its  utmost  capac- 
ity. From  the  first  of  October,  1846,  in  the  old  and 
new  place  of  worship,  to  the  beginning  of  the  new 
year  in  1817,  one  hundred  and  ten  were  added  to  the 
Church.  By  the  help  of  God  our  numbers  were  more 
than  doubled  in  less  than  three  months.  The  work  went 
steadily  forward  throughout  the  conference  year,  so  that 
at  its  termination  we  numbered  two  hundred  and  thirty 
members. 

This  was  a  year  of  hard  labor,  such  as  I  never  was 
called  to  endure  before.  I  was  very  happy,  and  divinely 
aided  in  my  varied  duties.  It  was  delightful  to  witness 
the  success  of  the  Gospel  among  the  boatmen,  and  es- 
pecially among  the  ungodly  in   the  third  ward  of  the 


382         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

Queen  City.  The  Sons  of  Temperance  finished  and  fur- 
nished the  basement  for  the  privilege  of  holding  their 
meetings  two  or  three  nights  in  each  week.  At  the  time 
of  the  dedication  the  church  was  all  finished  and  well 
furnished,  with  the  exception  of  the  seats.  Our  means 
were  all  exhausted,  and  the  trustees  had  no  hope  of  being 
able  to  raise  any  more  money  during  the  conference  year. 
In  the  spring  I  adopted  the  following  plan :  to  divide  the 
amount  necessary  into  shares  of  ten  dollars  each  and  get 
the  captains  and  owners  of  steam-boats  to  subscribe  it  in 
the  name  of  their  boats.  This  plan  succeeded  well,  but 
it  cost  me  many  days  of  exposure  and  anxious  solicitude 
while  waiting  to  see  the  boats  when  at  the  wharf.  When 
the  work  was  all  completed,  and  the  seats  neatly  painted, 
I  published  the  following  card  in  the  city  papers,  and 
caused  a  copy  of  it  to  be  neatly  framed  and  hung  up  in 
the  lobby  of  the  Bethel  Chapel : 

"  A  Card. — The  undersigned,  pastor  of  Bethel  Chapel, 
in  the  behalf  of  himself  and  the  praiseworthy  society 
which  he  has  the  privilege  to  serve,  would  take  the  ear- 
liest opportunity  of  tendering  his  hearty  and  sincere 
thanks  to  the  polite  captains  and  officers  of  the  following- 
named  steam-boats,  not  only  for  their  oft-repeated  ex- 
pressions of  kindness  and  good  wishes  for  the  success  of 
our  enterprise,  but  for  their  late  noble  and  generous- 
hearted  liberality  in  donating  the  sum  of  Jive  hundrea 
dollars,  an  amount  amply  sufficient  to  furnish  the  Chapei 
with  elegant  seats.  Our  fervent  prayer  to  God  now  is, 
that  each  of  the  generous  donors  may  receive  a  l  hun- 
dred fold  in  this  life/  and  when  done  navigating  the 
'stormy  sea  of  life/  may  each  one  of  them  'strike 
soundings'  in  the  haven  of  rest,  and  be  welcomed  to  a 
seat  in  the  mansions  above ! 

"  Maxwell  P.  Gaddis,  Pastor  Bethel  Chapel. 

"  Cincinnati,  March  21,  1847. 


CINCINNATI.  383 

u A  list  of  the  boats  contributing:  Yorktown,  Pales- 
tine, Swiftsure  Xo.  3,  Clipper,  Andrew  Jackson,  Xorth 
America,  Albatross,  Triumph,  New  England,  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson, Duchess,  Charles  Carroll,  Scioto,  Belle  of  the  West, 
Defiance,  Commodore  Perry,  Mountaineer,  Medium,  Wis- 
consin, James  Ross,  Ben.  Franklin  No  6,  Hendrick  Hud- 
son, Cambria,  Wave,  Monongahela,  Ivlilwaukie,  Pacific. 
Susquehanna,  U.  S.  Herald,  Anglo  Saxon,  Olivia,  Domin- 
ion, Pike  Xo.  7,  Phoenix,  Jamestown,  Lady  Madison, 
Daniel  Boone,  Fort  Wayne,  Paul  Jones,  Alhambra,  Ohio 
Belle,  George  Washington,  West  Union,  Western,  Clip- 
per Xo.  2,  Bell  Air,  Mary  Pell,  Yiola,  Harkaway,  Prairie 
Bird,  Planet,  Louis  Philippe." 

As  the  year  passed  on  we  organized  two  missionary 
societies  in  the  new  charge,  one  of  which  we  designated 
the  Collins  Female  Missionary  Society,  and  the  other, 
"juvenile,"  we  named  after  the  late  Rev.  W.  B.  Chris- 
tie. I  was  often  asked  by  the  members  what  was  the 
use  of  organizing  two  societies  in  a  Church  where  the 
people  were  still  in  debt,  and  had  already  given  more 
than  they  were  able  to  liquidate  old  claims.  I  replied  it 
was  my  duty  to  put  all  the  machinery  in  good  order  and 
in  motion,  and  then  trust  in  God  to  make  it  work  prof- 
itably for  his  glory.  I  also  gave  notice  that  I  would 
preach  a  missionary  sermon  and  solicit  a  missionary  sub- 
scription and  contribution.  Some  thought  it  would  be 
time  misspent,  and  that  all  my  labor  would  be  lost.  In 
the  mean  time,  however,  I  started  out  the  managers  of 
the  "'Collins  Female  Missionary  Society,"  to  collect  the 
amount  subscribed  " constituting  the  membership"  of 
their  new  society. 

On  the  Saturday  evening  previous  to  the  time  ap- 
pointed for  the  missionary  sermon  an  incident  occurred 
worthy  of  being  recorded  here.  I  had  just  finished  the 
outlines   of  my  discourse   when    I    heard  a  gentle    rap 


384  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

at  my  room  door.  I  arose  and  opened  it  hastily,  when  to 
my  astonishment  there  stood  before  me  a  venerable  old 
man  in  very  mean  apparel.  I  had  met  him  before, 
and  supposed  he  had  called  to  have  a  short  conversation 
with  me  on  the  subject  of  religion.  I  asked  him  to 
come  in  and  take  a  seat.  He  did  so,  but  seemed  to  be 
much  agitated.  At  length  I  discovered  him  with  his 
hand  in  his  pocket  trying  to  get  out  a  large  roll  of  bank 
notes,  which  he  soon  held  up  in  his  right  hand,  and  theD 
addressed  me  in  substance  as  follows:  "Mr.  Gaddis,  here 
is  one  hundred  dollars  that  I  have  been  at  a  loss  to  know 
what  to  do  with.  I  have  now  carried  it  in  my  pocket  for 
more  than  a  week,  during;  which  time  I  have  been  to  the 
bank  frequently,  thinking  I  would  deposit  it;  but  still  I 
did  not.  I  generally  know  what  to  do  with  my  money  as 
soon  as  it  comes  into  my  hands;  but  this  money  has 
troubled  me.  And  now,  my  dear  sir,  I  come  to  ask  you 
to  accept  it  as  a  donation  to  the  cause  of  missions,  which 
you  are  to  advocate  to-morrow.  I  am  now  old  and  gray- 
headed,  and  not  a  member  of  any  Church,  but  I  desire 
to  make  this  my  first  missionary  contribution  through 
your  society." 

The  feeling  of  gratitude  with  which  I  received  that 
donation  is  known  only  to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church. 
I  felt  that  it  was  in  answer  to  my  fervent,  importunate 
prayers  for  God  to  open  the  heart  of  some  man  of  wealth 
to  give  us  a  liberal  donation  on  that  very  occasion.  I 
was  to  preach  on  the  following  Sabbath,  and  when  J 
made  this  strange  disclosure  tears  of  joy  ran  down  thj 
happy  faces  of  the  little  society.  We  had  from  thw 
Bethel  that  year  a  collection  of  over  one  hundred  ana 
fifty  dollars  for  the  cause  of  missions. 

The  year  closed  with  a  high  tile  of  prosperity  I 
reported  over  two  hundred  members  to  the  annual  con- 
ference, the  society  ht.ving  more  than  doubled  its  niun- 


BETHEL    CHAPEL,     CINCINNATI.  38t> 

bers  during  my  labors.  To  God  be  all  the  glory  for  the 
good  done  ! 

An  amusing  incident  occurred  one  evening  at  Bethel 
Chapel.  I  had  just  closed  a  sermon  from  these  words, 
"A  man  shall  be  as  a  hiding-place."  While  standing  in 
the  altar  to  invite  mourners  forward  for  prayer,  a  large 
man  arose  about  the  middle  of  the  house  and  said, 
"What  church  is  this,  sir?"  I  replied  instantly,  "A 
Methodist  church."  To  this  my  strange  interrogator  re- 
plied at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "Sir!"  and  turned  his  head 
to  one  side  as  if  he  did  not  hear  me.  I  then  stepped  off 
the  altar,  and  we  met  within  about  ten  feet  of  the  pulpit. 
I  explained  to  him  more  fully  the  nature  of  the  Bethel 
enterprise,  and  the  object  of  opening  a  house  of  worship 
in  that  locality.  At  the  close  of  my  remarks  he  said, 
"Very  well,  very  well.  Now,  sir,"  he  continued,  "'I 
want  to  know  of  you  to-night,  whether  you  go  in  for  free 
discussion  in  this  Bethel  Chapel."  I  then  stepped  back 
on  the  altar  and  remarked  that  would  depend  altogether 
upon  the  subject-matter  to  be  argued,  and  the  character 
of  the  person  wishing  to  engage  in  what  he  called  "free 
discussion."  I  also  remarked  that  I  disliked  exceedingly 
to  be  interrupted  in  such  an  unceremonious  manner 
while  holding  a  protracted  meeting.  "Well,  sir,"  said 
he,  "if  you  will  allow  me  to  reply  to  your  sermon  on  to- 
morrow night  I  will  prove  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
this  audience  that  what  you  have  said  here  this  evening 
is  false,  and  that  what  you  call  the  religion  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  is  a.  pooi-,  mean,  contemptible  farce." 

All  this  was  said,  too,  in  the  most  scornful  and  insult- 
ing manner.  Just  at  that  moment  brother  B.  Ashcraft, 
Esq.,  who  was  leading  the  singing  and  standing  a  little 
\o  my  right,  passed  quickly  behind  me  and  walked  down 
the  aisle  toward  my  infidel  antagonist.  I  saw  from  the 
Expression  of  brother  Ashcraft  that  he  was  determined 

33 


386  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

to  "end  the  controversy  for  the  present"  in  a  summary 

way.     This  was  anticipated  by  the  impious  Mr.  , 

and  he  put  himself  in  a  defensive  attitude,  much  to  the 
consternation  of  the  female  portion  of  the  congregation, 
But  brother  Ashcraft  passed  on  down  the  aisle  as  if  he 
did  not  notice  the  defiant  intruder.  This  maneuver 
threw  the  stranger  off  his  guard,  and  he  turned  his  face 
instantly  toward  me  again.  Brother  Ashcraft,  on  seeing 
this,  made  a  sudden  spring  backward  and  caught  him  by 
the  nape  of  the  neck,  or  collar  of  the  coat,  and  threw 
this  proud  champion  of  infidelity,  or  u  free  discussion," 
upon  his  back  on  the  floor  with  such  force  as  to  shake 
the  church  from  one  end  to  the  other.  In  a  moment 
Professor  Herron  and  brother  Livesy  ran  to  his  assist- 
ance, but  before  reaching  the  spot  our  unwelcome  dis- 
putant rose  to  his  feet;  but  brother  Ashcraft  gave  him  a 
much  harder  fall  a  second  time,  which  so  alarmed  the 
ladies  that  many  of  them  jumped  up  on  the  seats.  How- 
ever, brother  Ashcraft,  with  the  assistance  of  two  more 
of  the  trustees,  soon  restored  quiet  by  the  speedy  ejec- 
tion of  Mr. from  the  house.     A  police  officer  was 

called  and  the  disturber  of  our  assembly  handed  over  for 
safe-keeping  during  the  night.  The  next  morning  he 
was  taken  before  the  Mayor — Henry  Spencer,  Esq. — and 
fined  ten  dollars  and  costs  of  prosecution.  The  sum  was 
paid  immediately,  and  our  Englishman  went  away  mut- 
tering to  himself  something  disrespectful  of  "Youn^ 
America,"  "  freedom  of  speech,"  and  " rights  of  cou 
science." 


tk 


THE    ESCULAPIAN    SPRINGS.  387 

CHAPTER   LIX. 

A     VISIT     TO     THE     ESCULAPIAN     SPRINGS. 

Feeling  much  indisposition  of  body,  in  consequence 
of  hard  labor,  during  the  winter  of  1847,  I  visited  the 
Esculapian  Springs,  to  recruit  my  failing  strength. 
These  springs  are  situated  in  a  cove,  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  first  range  of  mountains,  in  the  south-western 
part  of  Lewis  county,  Kentucky.  The  tract  of  land 
embracing  them  contains  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
the  greater  portion  of  which  is  not  susceptible  of  culti- 
vation. 

These  springs  were  first  discovered  by  the  western  pio- 
neers, at  an  early  period  in  the  settlement  of  the  state 
of  Kentucky.  When  this  western  country  was  in  a  wil- 
derness state,  and  the  population  sparse,  the  buffalo  and 
deer  were  the  only  regular  annual  visitors  to  the  place 
now  called  Esculapia;  but,  after  the  cessation  of  Indian 
hostilities,  they  were  resorted  to  occasionally  by  the 
hunters  of  Kentucky,  who  frequently  encamped  in  the 
mountains  contiguous  to  the  springs  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  the  best  game.  I  was  informed,  by  an  "old 
settler"  in  the  neighborhood,  that  an  Englishman,  whose 
name  was  not  now  remembered,  erected  the  first  rude 
cabin  at  the  springs.  He  removed  to  this  place  for  the 
purpose  of  recruiting  his  health,  which  was  seriously 
impaired  by  the  long  use  of  ardent  spirits;  but,  despite 
the  healing  waters  of  Esculapia,  he  unexpectedly  died, 
and  was  buried  in  a  deep  gorge  of  the  mountain.  No 
stone  was  placed  to  mark  the  spot,  in  consequence  of 
which  the  quiet  resting-place  of  the  first  tenant  of  the 
sulphur  springs  is  unknown  to  this  day. 

About  thirty  years  ago  Mr.  John  C.  Powland  purchased 


388  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  land,  and  removed  to  the  springs.  He  soon  after- 
ward erected  several  small  cabins  for  the  accommodation 
of  visitors.  For  many  years  but  very  few  attempted  to 
cross  ths  rugged  mountain  by  the  winding  footpath,  ex- 
cept such  as  felt  themselves  able  to  encamp  in  the  woods 
and  endure  hardships.  Since  that  period  it  has  fre- 
quently changed  owners,  and  many  excellent  improve- 
ments have  been  made.  Nature  and  art  combined  have 
already  rendered  it  a  most  delightful  summer  retreat; 
and  the  waters  are  becoming  more  celebrated  every  year 
for  their  healing  efficacy.  The  Chalybeate  spring  is  the 
best  and  most  copious  I  have  ever  seen. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  I  was  informed  that  a  lady,  occu- 
pying one  of  the  cottages  in  "Western  Row,"  was  ill  of 
consumption.  I  was  also  informed  that  she  was  a  mem- 
ber  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  a  former  ac- 
quaintance of  mine,  and  that  she  desired  to  see  me  as 
soon  as  I  had  leisure.  Immediately  after  dinner  I  em- 
braced the  opportunity  of  visiting  her  rural  cottage.  I 
have  no  language  to  describe  my  emotions  when  ushered 
into  her  sick  chamber.  She  was  so  changed  by  sickness 
and  long  confinement  to  a  couch  of  pain,  that,  at  a 
first  glance,  I  could  scarcely  discern  one  lineament  of 
the  expressive  features  of  the  once  lovely  and  much- 
admired  Miss  Margaretta  Silver,  of  North  Bend,  Ohio. 
When  I  met  her  last  it  was  on  her  wedding-day.  The 
flush  of  health  glowed  upon  her  cheek,  and  the  light  of 
hope  flashed  from  her  eye;  but  now  how  changed! — pale, 
suuken,  and  emaciated,  with  nothing  to  remind  us  of  her 
former  self  but  the  cheerful  smile,  affectionate  look,  and 
lustrous  eye,  which  now  seemed  to  glow  with  unearthly 
brightness ! 

"When  I  was  seated,  she  spoke  to  me,  with  much  emo- 
tion, in  the  following  touching  manner:  "Brother  Gad- 
dis,  it  is  a  long  time  since  we  last  met — several  years 


THE    ESCULAPIAN    SPRINGS.  389 

have  gone  by — but  0,  bow  glad  I  am  to  meet  you  here ! 
Little,  indeed,  did  I  expect  to  see  a  minister  before  my 
death ;  surely,  God  has  guided  your  footsteps  to  thi3 
pleasant  retreat.  Although  I  am  perfectly  happy,  I  have 
felt,  for  some  time  past,  that  it  would  be  a  great  privi- 
lege to  enjoy  the  conversation  and  have  the  prayers  of  a 
Christian  minister. " 

Having  expressed  my  willingness  not  only  to  sympa- 
thize with,  but  to  pray  for  her,  and  also  to  converse  of  a 
Savior's  dying  love,  we  fixed  upon  a  suitable  hour  in  the 
afternoon  for  such  religious  services  as  she  desired.  Five 
o'clock  was  the  hour  named,  and,  at  the  appointed  time, 
with  my  pocket  Bible  in  my  hand,  I  entered  the  cottage 
of  the  dying  Mrs.  R.  Her  husband,  who  had  been  ab- 
sent on  business  for  some  two  weeks,  at  the  city  of  C, 
had  just  returned.  He  received  me  very  courteously, 
and  requested  that  I  should  proceed  immediately  with 
such  exercises  as  she  desired.  I  then  read  a  portion  of 
the  holy  Scriptures,  and  united  with  her  in  prayer.  The 
Spirit  itself  helped  our  infirmities,  and  made  intercession 
for  us  with  groanings  that  can  not  be  uttered.  0,  that 
was  an  hour  of  sweet  communion  never  to  be  forgotten 
on  earth  !  Our  fellowship  was  with  the  Father  and  the 
Son,  and  each  of  us  felt  that  we  had  a  High-Priest  who 
could  be  touched  with  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities — an 
almighty  Savior,  and  one  who  was  indeed  "able  to  save 
unto  the  uttermost."     After  prayer  I  commenced  sing- 


"  Soon  will  the  toilsome  strife  be  o'er 
Of  sublunary  care, 
And  life's  dull  vanities  no  more 
This  anxious  breast  insuare. 

Courage,  my  soul !  on  God  rely, 
Deliverance  soon  will  come  ; 

A  thousand  ways  has  Providence 
To  bring  believers  home." 


390  POOT-PRINTS     OP    AN     ITINERANT. 

As  we  continued  to  sing,  the  happiness  of  sister  R.  ap- 
peared to  be  almost  insupportable.  Her  feeble  frame 
shook  all  over,  and  she  began  to  clap  her  hands  and 
shout  aloud  for  joy;  her  countenance  beamed  with  more 
than  earthly  brightness,  as  she  continued,  with  a  clear 
voice,  to  speak  of  the  love  of  Jesus  to  her  soul.  Her  tri- 
umphant shouts  of  victory  attracted  quite  a  number  of 
persons  to  the  door  of  her  cottage.  On  seeing  her  hus- 
band weeping,  she  beckoned  him  to  come  to  her  bedside, 
and  then  threw  her  right  arm  around  his  neck,  pressed 
him  to  her  bosom,  and  imprinted  on  his  cheek  the  silent 
but  impressive  token  of  her  dtamjdcss  love.  She  then 
said,  with  a  look  of  affection  that  I  will  never  forget, 
(i  0,  my  dear  husband,  weep  not  for  me,  I  am  going 
home!  0,  happy  day!  0,  sweet  Jesus!  What  a  pre 
ciuus  Savior !  0,  what  a  happy  day  is  this  !  Sweetest 
and  happiest  of  all  my  life !  0,  my  dear  husband,  do 
not  grieve  for  me,  I  am  going  home !  Our  separation 
will  be  short.  I  know  you  will  prepare  to  meet  me  in 
heaven  !  0,  I  have  missed  you  very  much  during  your 
absence,  but  then  Jesus  was  with  me  all  the  time  !  His 
presence  makes  my  paradise  !  He  has  upheld  me  by  his 
right  hand,  and  blessed  me  wonderfully !"  She  then 
shouted  aloud  for  some  time,  repeating  those  words  fre- 
quently, "0,  happy  day  !     0,  happy  day  l" 

To  her  weeping  mother,  who  was  seated  at  the  head  of 
her  bed,  she  said,  "  0,  dearest  mother,  weep  not  for  me 
when  I  am  gone  !  Tell  them  all  at  home  for  me  I  am 
ready  to  die  !  Tell  them  I  AM  GOING  iiome,  and  to  pre- 
pare and  meet  me  in  heaven  1"  On  seeing  her  only 
child,  in  the  arms  of  its  nurse,  she  said,  "God  bless 
my  child  !  0,  brother  Gaddis,  pray  for  my  dear  child, 
that  it  may  be  brought  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition 
of  the  Lord,  and  meet  me  in  heaven !"  Mr.  G.,  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  springs,   coming  in  at  this  moment  she 


THE    ESCULAPIAN    SPRINGS.  391 

exclaimed,  "0,  Mr.  G.,  live  for  God!  Religion  is  tho 
only  thing  in  the  world  that  is  worth  living  or  dying  for. 
0,  Mr.  G-.,  you  have  been  very  kind  to  me  since  I  came 
here,  and  now  we  must  soon  part;  but  live  for  God,  and 
W3  shall  soon  meet  again  !  0,  just  think  how  kind  the 
Savior  has  been  to  me  during  my  affliction — how  he  has 
comforted  and  sustained  me  since  I  came  to  the  springs! 
0,  happy  day!"  She  continued  in  this  ecstatic  frame  of 
mind  for  a  long  time,  and  praised  the  Lord  till  her  phys- 
ical strength  was  exhausted.  She  then  sunk  into  a  quiet 
slumber,  with  her  hands  folded  upon  her  breast,  while  a 
heavenly  radiance  still  illumined  her  pallid  countenance. 
Early  the  next  morning  I  called  to  see  her,  and  found 
her  in  the  possession  of  the  same  rapturous  state  of  en- 
joyment. She  was  blest  with  perfect  love,  that  "casteth 
out  all  fear."  She  conversed  about  death,  the  cold 
grave,  parting  with  her  relatives  and  nearest  friends, 
with  as  much  composure  as  if  preparing  to  return  to 
her  own  loved  home  on  earth.  She  repeatedly  assured 
me  that  she  had  no  fears,  no  doubts,  and  no  gloom;  she 
was  invested  with  a  power  that  bore  her  spirit  up  amid 
the  "swellings  of  Jordan."  Xever  shall  I  forget  my 
communings  with  a  spirit  so  fully  matured  for  glory. 
Her  prayers,  how  simple,  and  yet  how  effectual  ! 

"  True  and  fervent  are  the  prayers  that  breathe 
Forth  from  a  lip  that  fades  with  coming  death." 

God  will  treasure  them  up  in  the  garners  of  glory,  and 
pour  them  out,  in  coming  years,  on  those  persons  for 
whom  they  have  been  so  sincerely  offered  by  the  dying. 
On  the  morning  of  my  departure  for  home,  I  called  to 
bid  her  adieu.  I  perceived  that  she  was  near  the  close 
of  her  pilgrimage.  When  I  spoke  of  my  departure,  she 
requested  me  to  pray  once  more.  After  prayer  she 
seemed  inexpressibly  happy  and  she  talked  of  a  Savior's 


392         FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

dying  love  in  strains  as  "  sweet  as  angels  use."  After 
praying  for  a  long  time,  she  looked  around  the  little 
cottage,  and  said,  "O,  how  many  days  and  nights  of  suf- 
fering I  have  had  in  this  lovely  cottage  I  but  then,"  with 
a  sweet  smile  she  said,  "they  were  days  of  great  rejoic- 
ing, too;  for  my  Savior  was  with  me  all  the  time.  0, 
what  a  sweet  and  happy  place  is  this  !"  I  then  took  her 
dying  hand  in  mine,  when  she  looked  up,  and  said,  "  0, 
happy  day !  I  feel  that  I  am  constantly  borne  up  on  the 
pinions  of  angels !  God  bless  you,  brother  Gaddis ! 
Farewell!  we  shall  soon  meet  again."  I  then  said,  "Sis- 
ter R.,  what  shall  I  say  to  your  old  friends  and  former 
companions  when  I  return  to  Cincinnati  f"  She  smiled, 
and  promptly  replied,  "  Tell  them  I  am  almost  home,  and 
prepared  to  go!" 

An  ancient  philosopher  said,  "The  pure  soul  leaves 
the  body  as  the  lightning  flits  from  the  clouds,  shining 
brightest  at  its  departure."  It  was  so  with  this  dying 
saint.     As  "life's  twilight"  gently  closed  around  her, 

"  The  unrobing  spirit  cast 
Diviner  glories  to  the  last." 

By  her  own  request,  she  was  buried  in  the  beautiful 
grove  on  the  mountain  side,  opposite  the  cottage  door. 
Immediately  after  her  burial,  the  bereaved  husband 
returned  to  his  desolate  home,  in  the  city  of  C,  and  the 
widowed  mother  to  North  Bend,  taking  along  with  her 
little  Mary,  the  only  child  of  her  deceased  daughter, 
Marsraretta.  It  was  now  all  that  was  left  below  around 
which  her  sorrow-stricken  heart  desired  to  cling.  In 
this  sweet  and  interesting  child  she  could  trace  the 
very  image  of  its  departed  mother,  and  most  fondly  did 
hhe  cherish  the  hope  that  its  life  might  be  spared  to 
beguile  the  gloom  and  dispel  the  accumulating  sorrows 
cf  her  soul.     But;   alas !    she  was    doomed    to  an  early 


MY    LAST    AGENCY.  393 

disappointment,  and  her  fondest  hopes  were  suddenly 
blasted;  for  in  less  than  one  short  month  the  Savior 
called  Mary  to  a  happy  reunion  with  her  mother  in  the 
skies.  Fancy  the  ecstatic  bliss  of  that  sainted  mother, 
on  such  a  meeting  with  her  beloved  child  in  the  man- 
sions of  glory.  Sure,  methinks  she  exclaimed,  as  when 
bidding  adieu  to  earth,  u  0,  happy  day !  0,  happy  day  ! 
0,  what  a  sweet  and  happy  day  is  this  I" 

My  task  is  now  done — this  mournful  story  is  ended;  but 
as  often  as  memory  shall  awaken  the  reminiscences  of 
the  past,  I  shall  dwell,  with  mingled  emotions,  upon  the 
scenes  of  sadness  and  pleasure  connected  with  my  last 
visit  to  Esculapia.  I  know  not  what  effect  this  narrative 
will  produce  on  the  mind  of  the  gay  and  thoughtless 
reader,  but  may  I  not  fondly  hope  that  it  may  be  the 
means  of  leading  some  one  to  "seek  first  the  kingdom 
of  God  and  his  righteousness  t"  0,  think  of  the  fleeting 
nature  of  earth-born  happiness,  and  learn  to  set  your 
affections  on  things  above !  True  happiness  is  not  found 
below  the  skies. 

"The  toil  is  fruitless  if  you  seek  it  here." 

Turn,  then,  to  the  "  living  waters,"  drink,  and  thirst  no 
more. 


CHAPTER   LX. 

WESLEYAN    FEMALE     COLLEGE  —  MY    LAST 
AGENCY. 

In  the  fall  of  1847  I  was  appointed  to  act  as  the  Agent 
of  the  Wesleyan  Female  College  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Rev.  "William  Young  had  served  them  faithfully  and  very 
successfully  the  preceding  conference  year.     1  feel  it  to 


394         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

be  a  duty  that  I  owe  to  the  cause  of  female  education  to 
give  a  condensed  history  of  the  origin,  organization,  and 
prosperity  of  this  popular  college. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  ministers  of  Cincinnati, 
held  in  the  Editor's  office  of  the  Western  Christian  Advo- 
cate, May  4,  1842,  Rev.  L.  L.  Hamline,  D.  D.,  was  called 
to  the  Chair,  and  Rev.  William  Herr  appointed  Secretary. 

At  the  request  of  the  Chair  the  object  of  the  meeting 
was  explained  by  Rev.  Charles  Elliott,  D.  D. ;  namely,  to 
consult  on  the  expediency  of  taking  measures  to  establish 
in  this  city  (Cincinnati)  a  Female  Institute  or  College,  of 
the  highest  possible  grade.  After  which  a  resolution  was 
passed  calling  a  public  meeting  to  consider  its  practica- 
bility; and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  draft  and  report 
a  plan  to  be  laid  before  the  general  meeting.  Pursuant 
to  public  notice,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Wesley  Chapel, 
on  Fifth,  between  Broadway  and  Sycamore  streets,  May 
20,  1842;  at  which  time  and  place  the  plan  reported  by 
the  committee  detailing  the  general  principles  of  the  In- 
stitute, was  read  and  adopted  without  a  dissenting  voice. 
A  Board  of  Trustees  were  immediately  organized  and 
arrangements  made  for  the  employment  of  teachers; 
and  also  to  procure  suitable  college  buildings,  etc.  At  a 
subsequent  meeting  Rev.  P.  B.  Wilber  and  Mrs.  Mary 
C.  Wilber  were  employed  to  take  the  supervision  of  said 
Institute.  The  first  session  of  the  Female  Collegiate  In- 
stitute commenced  on  the  first  Monday  of  September, 
1842.  Not  long  after  the  commencement  of  the  school 
an  "act  of  incorporation "  was  procured  from  the  Leg- 
islature of  Ohio  under  the  title  of  the  Methodist  Fe- 
male Collegiate  Institute.  But  in  the  year  1846,  it- 
was  determined  to  establish  the  " Institute"  on  a  still 
firmer  basis ;  to  procure  a  more  eligible  site,  and  erect 
new  and  more  commodious  buildings.  Accordingly,  a 
new  "act  of  incorporation"  was  obtained,  and  the  nam© 


MY    LAST    AGENCY  395 

of  said  " Institute"  changed  to  that  of  "The  "Wesleyan 
Female  College" — granting  to  the  Trustees  full  power 
to  appoint  a  President  and  Professors,  and  any  number 
of  suitable  instructors  for  the  instruction  of  pupils  in  the 
arts  and  sciences,  and  in  all  the  necessary  useful  and 
ornamental  branches  of  a  thorough  and  liberal  education; 
and  also  to  confer  on  those  pupils  whom  they  shall  deem 
worthy  thereof,  all  such  literary  lienors  and  degrees  as  are 
usually  conferred  by  the  best  Female  Colleges,  Institu- 
tions, or  Academies. 

The  energetic  Board  of  Trustees  immediately  purchased 
the  spacious  mansion  on  Vine-street,  between  Sixth  and 
Seventh,  formerly  the  residence  of  Henry  Starr,  Esq., 
and  erected  a  beautiful  and  capacious  college  edifice  in 
the  rear  of  the  same;  which,  with  some  recent  additions 
to  the  boarding  house,  makes  the  property  equal,  if  not 
superior,  to  any  thing  east  or  west  of  the  mountains. 

Joint  Stock  Plan. — The  property  of  the  Wesleyan 
Female  College  of  Cincinnati  is  represented  by  certifi- 
cates of  stock  of  one  hundred  dollars  each. 

1.  Each  stockholder  shall  have  an  equal  interest  in  all  the 
property  of  said  College  in  the  proportion  which  the  amount 
of  his  stock  bears  to  the  whole  amount  issued,  and  to  the 
same  proportion  of  the  profits  arising  from  the  institution; 
and,  further,  shall  be  entitled  to  &  free  admission  to  all  the 
public  lectures,  literary  and  scientific,  of  the  institution. 

2.  The  holder  of  Jive  shares  of  stock  shall  be  entitled 
to  a  perpetual  scholarship  in  the  said  College,  by  virtue  of 
which  he  may  keep  forever  one  student  in  the  regular 
English  and  Classical  Departments  of  the  College,  without 
charge  for  tuition. 

3.  The  holder  of  four  shares  of  stock  shall  be  entitled 
to  a  deduction  of  ten  per  cent,  from  the  tuition  of  four 
students,  whom  he  may  send  or  cause  to  be  sent,  forever. 
The  holder  of  three  shares  shall  in  like  manner  be  entitled 


396       foot-prints  of  an   itinerant. 

to  a  deduction  of  ten  per  cent,  from  the  tuition  bills  of 
three  students  forever. 

4.  The  holder  of  two  shares  of  stock  shall  be  entitled 
to  a  deduction  of  ten  per  cent,  from  the  bills  of  two  stu- 
dents forever;  and  the  holder  of  one  share,  in  like  man- 
ner, a  deduction  of  ten  per  cent,  forever,  or  twenty  per 
cent,  for  fifteen  years. 

The  donor  of  seventy-five  dollars  shall  be  entitled  to  a 
deduction  of  five  per  cent,  for  three  students  for  ten 
years;  the  donor  of  fifty  dollars  to  five  per  cent,  for  two 
students  for  seven  years;  and  the  donor  of  twenty-five 
dollars  shall  be  entitled  to  a  deduction  of  five  per  cent, 
from  the  tuition  bills  of  one  student  for  five  years.  Each 
donor,  as  before  stated,  shall  have  a  free  admission  to  all 
the  public  lectures  of  the  College. 

Privileges  are  granted  also  to  the  donors  of  smaller 
sums,  which  I  need  not  mention  here.  The  certificates 
of  stock  and  donations  are  transferable  in  the  usual  way 
on  the  books  of  the  College.  A  deduction  of  fifty  per 
cent,  is  made  on  all  the  tuition  bills  of  ministers  of  the 
Gospel  of  all  denominations,  whether  engaged  as  pastors, 
missionaries,  agents  of  benevolent  institutions,  or  as 
teachers. 

The  following  table,  which  I  have  compiled  with  accu- 
racy, will  show  the  number  of  graduates  since  the  year 
1S45  up  to  the  present  time: 

English  Course.  Classical  Courso 

1845 4 2 

1-46 — 1 

1-47 S 5 

1848 10 1 

1H9 9 2 

1850 9 5 

1851 15 5 

1853 8 4 

1~53 11 6 

1854 15 5 

88  ~36 

Total 124 


MY    LAST    AGENCY.  397 

This  will  give  my  readers  a  correct  idea  of  the  contin- 
ued and  increasing  prosperity  of  the  College.  Thirty-six 
young  ladies  have  completed  the  College  or  Classical 
course  of  study,  and  eighty-eight  have  graduated  in  the 
regular  English  Department,  within  the  last  nine  years. 
From  the  Catalogue,  just  published,  we  learn  that  during 
the  last  year  there  were  in  the 

College  Department 159 

Preparatory     "         First  Class 53 

Second  Class 93 

Third  Class 62 

Fourth  Class 30 

Primary  *         Irregular 16 

First  Class 36 

"    .     Second  Class J*0 

Total 479 

My  time  was  principally  occupied  in  procuring  addi- 
tional subscriptions  and  in  collecting  installments  already 
due  on  scholarships.  In  the  sprkig  I  visited  Pittsburg, 
and  attended  the  session  of  the  General  conference.  On 
my  return  home,  in  company  with  Bishop  Morris,  I  was 
taken  violently  sick  on  board  the  steam-boat.  I  landed 
at  Portsmouth,  and  being  conveyed  to  a  hotel,  a  physi- 
cian was  called,  who  pronounced  the  attack  a  congestive 
chill.  I  was  very  sick  for  eight  or  ten  days.  When  my 
fever  abated  I  was  alone  in  my  room.  The  sun  was  up 
above  the  river  hills,  and  shining  in  at  my  window  in  the 
third  story  of  the  hotel.  I  shall  never  forget  that  morn- 
ing. 0,  the  peace  and  rapturous  joy  that  filled  my  soul! 
I  looked  at  my  wasted  frame,  and  thought  with  delight 
of  the  glorious  morning  of  the  resurrection,  and  com- 
menced singing  a  hymn,  with  this  chorus — 

"  0,  what  a  1m  autiful  morning  that  will  be  ! 
And  we'll  all  shout  together  in  that  morning." 

Blessed  be  God  for  the  "hope  of  the  resurrection  V 
"We  shall  not  all  sleep,  but  we  shall  all  be  changed.  In 
a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump." 


398  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

0,  blessed  be  God  for  the  promise  that  "  death  is  to  be 
swallowed  up  in  victory,"  and  we  to  have  this  victorj 
11  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ!" 

"  Sin-blighted  though  we  are, 
We,  too,  shall  rise,  and  in  eternal  summer 
Lose  our  threescore  years  and  ten." 

The  duties  of  an  agent  are  always  perplexing;  yet  my 
connection  with  the  Weslcyan  Female  College,  in  Cincin- 
nati, was  rendered  pleasant  and  agreeable,  by  the  uniform 
kindness  of  the  President  and  his  excellent  and  accom- 
plished lady,  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Wilber.  I  also  take  pleasure 
in  stating  here,  that  I  have  never  known  a  more  high- 
minded  and  generous-hearted  Board  of  Trustees  than  the 
men  who  composed  that  Board  in  1847-8.  Their  kind- 
ness to  me  personally  shall  never  be  forgotten  while  I 
sojourn  in  this  vale  of  tears.  May  the  Wesleyan  Female 
College  ever  stand  as  it  does  at  present,  the  model  female 
school  of  the  "Queen  of  the  West'." 

The  present  Board  of  Instructors  consists  of  the  fol- 
lowing persons:  Rev.  P.  B.  Wilber,  M.  A.,  President 
and  Professor  of  Mental  and  Moral  Science;  Mrs.  Mary 
Wilber,  Governess;  Jeremiah  Tingley,  M.  A.,  Professor 
of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Science; ,  Profess- 
or of  Ancient  Languages;  Miss  Mary  At  Pe  Forest,  Pre- 
ceptress in  Higher  Collegiate  Studies;  Miss  Charlotte 
Davis,  Preceptress  in  Collegiate  Studies;  Miss  Rachel  L. 
Bodley,  M.  L.  A.,  Assistant  in  Collegiate  and  Preparatory 
Studies;  Miss  Amanda  H.  Gest,  M.  B.  L.,  Preceptress  of 
First  Preparatory  Class;  Miss  Mary  II.  Brown,  M.  L.  A., 
Preceptress  of  Second  Preparatory  Class;  Miss  Mary  A. 
Wilber,  Preceptress  of  Third  Preparatory  Class;  Miss 
Mary  G.  Sackett,  M.  E.  L.,  Preceptress  of  Fourth  Pre- 
paratory Class;  Miss  Jane  Porter,  Preceptress  of  Primary 
Department;  James  W.  Bowers,  Professor  of  Penman- 
ship; Miss  Margaret  Fingland,  Instructress  in  Vocal  and 


MY    LAST    AGENCY.  399 

Instrumental  Music;  Miss  Eliza  Cook,  Instructress  on 
Piano  and  Guitar;  Miss  Emily  Cook,  Instructress  in  Vo- 
cal and  Instrumental  Music;  T.  A.  Stevens,  Professor  of 
Vocal  Music;  Mrs.  Charlotte  Cad  well,  Instructress  in 
German;  Miss  Adeline  E.  D'Oisy,  Instructress  in  French; 
Mrs.  Emily  Fierlein,  Teacher  of  the  various  styles  of  Em- 
broidery; Martin  C.  Rosienkiewicz,  Professor  of  Linear 
and  Perspective  Drawing  and  Painting. 

I  shall  never  regret  that  I  have  spent  two  years  in  advo- 
cating the  cause  of  female  education  in  the  great  valley 
of  the  Mississippi.  I  believe  I  bad  the  honor  of  being 
the  first  '-traveling  agent"  that  was  employed  by  an 
ecclesiastical  body  in  Ohio,  to  plead  for  contributions 
from  our  fellow-citizens  to  erect  seminaries  and  build 
female  colleges,  for  the  exclusive  benefit  of  the  "  better 
half"  of  the  human  race — noble  and  generous-hearted 
woman. 

"Who  ever  thinks  of  praying  for  college  agents?  And 
yet,  perhaps,  no  one  stands  more  in  need  of  sympathy 
than  they  do.  Colleges  and  seminaries  must  be  reared 
in  our  midst,  and  money  is  necessary  to  their  erection 
and  support.  But,  alas !  who  ever  remembers  the  man 
who  toiled  day  and  night  to  procure  the  means  to  erect 
them  ?  So  of  nearly  all  our  agencies.  While  deploring 
my  sad  lot  I  received  a  letter  from  Rev.  William  P. 
Strickland,  D.  D.,  then  Agent  of  the  American  Bible 
Society  in  Southern  Ohio.  I  will  make  one  extract 
from  it  to  show  my  readers  bow  little  co-operation  and 
sympathy  men  have  when  pleading  even  for  the  best 
of  causes: 

<(I  received  a  note  to-day,  through  the  post-office,  in  a 
female  hand,  running  thus:  'Envy  thou  not  the  oppress- 
or, and  choose  none  of  his  ways.  Proverbs.  Then  do 
not,  brother  S.,  ask  us  to  imitate  him,  even  if  he  sub- 
scribes thirty  dollars  to  the  Bible  cause.     Lord,  save  us 


400         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

from  ostentation  as  well  as  oppression!'  This,  I  pre- 
sume,  was   elicited  by  a  remark  I  made  last  evening  in 

reference  to  Mr.  's  subscription,  and  I  expressed  the 

wish  that  some  there  would  do  likewise.  Don't  you 
think  an  agent  requires  much  grace  and  demands  much 
sympathy?  I  will  leave  here  to-morrow  for  C.,  pro- 
vided I  can  get  a  conveyance,  as  the  roads  are  almost 
impassable/' 

But  brother  Strickland  still  went  forward,  notwith- 
standing these  little  unpleasant  occurrences.  He  served 
the  Bible  cause  acceptably  and  successfully  for  five  years, 
since  which  period  he  has  been  in  the  regular  work.  He 
is  not  only  a  popular  preacher  and  lecturer,  but  has 
recently  become  extensively  known  as  an  author  and  pop- 
ular editor  of  books,  etc. 

Farewell  to  agencies  for  years  to  come ! — by  permission 
of  the  "  powers  that  be." 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

TIIE     GRAVE     OF     REV.    WILLIAM     B.    CHRISTIE. 

The  toils  of  the  day  were  over,  and  the  shades  of 
evening  were  coming  on.  The  din  and  bustle  in  the 
crowded  streets  and  thoroughfares  of  the  city  had  par- 
tially died  away.  The  air  was  mild,  balmy,  and  inviting. 
I  could  not  resist  the  desire  which  I  felt  to  take  an 
"evening  walk."  Yielding  myself  up  to  the  predom- 
inant feelings  of  my  heart  immediately  after  tea,  I  went 
out  like  one  of  the  old  patriarchs,  not  "knowing  whither 
I  went."  However,  after  walking  about  a  square  and  a 
half  from  my  lodgings,  I  concluded  to  visit  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church  lately  erected  on  Catharine-street, 
and  transact  some  business  with  the  "officiary."     I  was 


GRAVE    OF    REV.    W.     B.     CHRISTIE.         401 

then  acting  as  Agent  of  the  Wesleyan  Female  College. 
On  my  arrival  at  the  church  I  found  the  doors  and  win- 
dows closed.  I  lingered  for  a  short  time  on  the  side- 
walk in  front  of  the  church.  The  full  moon  was  shed- 
ding its  mild  rays  of  silver  light  upon  the  spires  and 
lofty  domes,  and  arraying  the  far-off  surrounding  hights 
of  the  Queen  City  with  an  investiture  of  surpassing  love- 
liness. As  I  beheld,  with  adoring  wonder,  the  majesty 
of  the  works  of  the  Creator,  the  countless  hosts  of  twink- 
ling stars 

"  In  the  sable  vault  of  night's  dominion," 

T  was  forcibly  reminded  of  the  language  of  the  youthful 
card  of  Nottingham,  the  lamented  Henry  Kirk  "White* 

"When  marshaled  on  the  nightly  plain, 
A  glittering  host  bestuds  the  sky; 
One  star  alone  of  all  the  train, 

Can  fix  the  sinner's  Avandering  eye." 

As  I  walked  up  the  street  I  suddenly  fell  into  a  train 
of  serious  reflections  upon  the  incidents  and  sufferings 
of  the  life  of  an  itinerant  minister.  As  one  scene  after 
another,  in  quick  succession,  passed  before  me,  I  was  soon 
unconscious  of  every  thing  that  was  passing  around  me. 

The  pleasures  and  enjoyments  of  an  hour  like  that  are 
more  desirable  than  days  and  nights  spent  in  the  circles 
of  gayety.  I  thought  of  other  years,  of  happier  hours, 
and  of  friends  in  the  spirit-land. 

"  'Tis  sweet  to  remember ;  I  would  not  forego 
The  charm  which  the  past  o'er  the  present  can  throw, 
For  all  the  gay  visions  that  Fancy  can  weave 
In  her  web  of  illusion  that  shines  to  deceive. 
We  know  not  the  future,  the  past  we  have  felt ; 
Its  cherished  enjoyments  the  bosom  can  melt ; 
Its  raptures  anew  o'er  our  pulses  may  roll, 
When  thoughts  of  the  morrow  fall  cold  on  the  soul." 

1  had  now  arrived  at  the  east  end  of  the  old  cemetery, 

and  felt  an  anxious  desire  to  enter  it  and  visit  the  grave 
34 


402  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

of  a  dearly-beloved  friend.  As  I  had  not  been  in  thia 
place  of  graves  for  a  long  time,  it  was  with  difficulty  I 
found  the  spot  where  his  ashes  reposed.  After  wander- 
ing about  through  the  burying-ground,  attempting  to 
decipher  names  and  dates,  and  to  read  such  inscriptions 
by  the  pale  beams  of  Cynthia  as  I  found  to  be  interest- 
ing and  instructive,  I  at  length  found  a  humble  monu- 
ment in  the  rear  of  Christie  Chapel,  bearing  the  follow- 
ing unostentatious  inscription,  which  I  was  enabled  to 
read  by  the  light  of  the  moon : 

IN  MEMOKY 

OF 

REV.  WILLIAM  B.  CHRISTIE, 

Long  a  devoted  and  efficient  member  of  the  Ohio  conference  *f  tbe 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Born,  September  2,  1803: 

Died,  March  26,  1842. 

"  Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  is  the  death  of  his  saints." 

Also: 
IX  MEMORY 

OF 

BURR  WRIGHT  CHRISTIE, 

Son  of  Rev.  William  B.  Christie. 

Born,  December  3,  1834  : 

Died,  September  21,  1837. 

As  I  kneeled  at  the  grave  of  my  friend  and  consecra- 
ted myself  anew  to  the  service  of  God,  I  fancied  that  u  i 
heard"  a  voice  from  heaven  saying,  "Write,  Blessed  are 
the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth."  I 
lingered  around  that  hallowed  spot  a  long  time,  and  was 
enabled  to  recall  many  deeply-interesting  scenes  in  the 
life  of  my  devoted  brother  Christie.  I  thought  of  our 
first  meeting,  and  the  hour  of  final  separation  in  his 
dying  chamber,  only  a  few  days  before  his  death.  As  I 
communed  with  the  past  I  wept  like  a  child.     I)eom  it 


GRAVE    OF    REV.    W.     B.    CHRISTIE.         403 

not  weakness,  I  was  standing  at  the  grave  of  my  first  pre- 
siding elder. 

There  are  none  among  the  departed  to  whom  I  feel  as 
deeply  indebted  as  the  late  Rev.  William  B.  Christie,  of 
the  Ohio  annual  conference.  The  following  tribute  to 
his  memory  is  the  promptings  of  a  warm  and  grateful 
heart.  When  admitted  on  trial  in  the  traveling  connec- 
tion, I  was  appointed  to  a  circuit  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  Cincinnati  district.  Brother  Christie  was  my 
presiding  elder,  and  I  continued  under  his  faithful  watch- 
care  till  admitted  to  elder's  orders.  During  this  period 
of  four  years  I  spent  most  of  my  "rest  weeks"  in  the 
family  of  brother  Christie.  His  uniform  cheerfulness  and 
open-hearted  hospitality  made  the  district  parsonage-house 
a  most  desirable  retreat  for  the  toil-worn  itinerant.  I 
always  admired  him  for  his  social  qualities  and  deep  piety, 
as  well  as  his  intellectual  greatness.  He  was  richly 
endowed  with  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

He  was  a  man  of  unassuming  manners.     His  virtues 

shone  with  equal  luster  in  all  the  relations  of  domestic 

life  as  when  engaged  in  the  more  public  duties  of  his 

ministerial  profession      I  loved  him  with  a  "pure  heart 

fervently."     And  it  has  always  been   among  the   most 

pleasing  reflections  of  my  whole  life,  that  this  brotherly 

love  was  fully  reciprocated  from  the  period  of  our  first 

acquaintance  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease.     But  he  is 

gone  to  a  state  of  perennial  bliss — transferred  from  the 

scenes  of  his  earthly  mission  to  the  rewards  of  heaven. 

May  it  be  a  part  of  my  future  happiness  to  meet  him 

there ! 

"  Thou,  -whose  flight 
Was  on  so  swift  a  wing, 

Hast  thou  not  raised  the  hearts  that  loved  thee 
To  a  firmer  hold  on  heaven?" 

I  have  often  wished  I  could  wield  a  graphic  pen — de- 
scribe persons — delineate  character — that  I  might  give 


404  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

to  future  generations  a  faithful  and  life-like  portrait  of 
Ohio's  most  gifted  and  eloquent  divine. 

"His  person,  of  medium  hight,  was  always  delicate, 
but  erect  and  of  manly  bearing;  head  unusually  large 
and  covered  with  a  beautiful  suit  of  fine,  dark  hair;  eyes 
black,  sparkling,  glowing  with  intelligence  and  softened 
with  benevolence.  In  his  social  habits  he  observed  a 
proper  medium  between  levity  and  melancholy;  he  was 
cheerful,  but  not  trifling;  religious,  but  not  sad.  In 
action  he  was  easy,  graceful,  and  dignified ;  neat  in  his 
apparel,  but  nothing  in  dress  or  address  that  indicated 
hauteur. 

'•'As  a  preacher  he  excelled  in  three  particulars; 
namely,  precision  and  beauty  of  language,  strength  of 
argument,  and  power  of  application.  By  the  first  he 
secured  the  attention  of  all,  by  the  second  he  convinced 
the  judgment,  pouring  floods  of  light  upon  the  under 
standing,  and  by  the  last  he  overpowered  the  feelings  of 
his  audience.  While  his  profound  knowledge  of  the- 
ology and  his  logical  acumen  deeply  interested  the  most 
learned,  his  religious  ardor  and  fervid  eloquence  arrested 
and  led  captive  the  most  careless,  and  made  the  most 
simple-hearted  joyftA'* 

Alas !  that  one  possessing  such  brilliant  and  useful 
talents  should  have  thus  early  been  called  away!  But 
"death  loves  a  shining  mark." 

AVhcn  informed  that  he  was  dying,  he  said,  "I  am  not 
alarmed;  I  am  not  afraid  to  die;  Jesus,  with  his  bleed- 
ing hands,  will  not  thrust  me  away.  I  am  almost  home 
I  feel  that  God  is  good  to  me,  and  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
my  salvation.  Tell  my  brethren  of  the  Ohio  conference, 
if  they  think  my  name  worthy  of  being  mentioned,  I 
have  not  preached  an  unknown  and  unfelt  Savior.  Tell 
them,  that  though  unworthy  and  unfaithful,  that  Gospel 
which  I  have  preached  to  others  sustains  me  now.     Tell 


GRAVE    OP    REV.    W.     B.    CHRISTIE.         405 

the  ministers  to  preach  Christ  and  him  crucified.  Tell 
them  my  only  hope,  my  only  foundation,  is  in  the  blood 
of  sprinkling.  Precious  blood!  0  the  fullness,  the 
richness,  the  sweetness  of  that  fountain  \" 

But  I  must  close  this  sketch  by  introducing  to  the 
reader  some  beautiful,  descriptive  lines  of  original  poetry 
from  that  highly-gifted  poetess,  Mrs.  Catharine  Walker, 
wife  of  Rev.  George  W.  Walker,  of  the  Cincinnati  con- 
ference. Mrs.  Walker  was  a  warm  and  devoted  friend 
of  the  lamented  Christie,  and  composed  these  lines  on 
his  triumphant  death  at  my  importunate  solicitation : 

"HE  FOUGHT   A  GOOD  FIGHT." 

He  fought  a  good  fight,  the  faith  he  kept, 

Till  summoned  from  on  high  ; 
As  a  warrior  reclining  on  his  shield, 

He  laid  him  down  to  die. 

'Twas  a  glorious  fight.     He  nobly  fought, 

And  like  a  chieftain  fell; 
His  face  to  the  foe  and  his  armor  on, 

He  conquered  earth  and  hell. 

To  his  fellow-soldiers  he  calmly  said, 

M I  triumph  though  I  fall ; 
My  victory's  by  the  blood-stained  cross — 

Fight  on  and  conquer  them  all. 

Though  first  I'm  called  to  leave  your  ranks, 

My  heart  is  with  the  brave ; 
From  heaven's  portals  I'll  look  down 

And  see  your  banners  wave. 

I've  not  an  unknown  Savior  preached, 

But  feel  his  sprinkling  blood, 
To  cleanse  my  soul  from  every  stain, 

And  make  me  meet  for  God. 

That  truth  which  I  have  humbly  taught, 

I  feel  sustains  me  now  J 
Though  heart  and  flesh  are  failing  fast, 

And  death  is  on  my  brow. 

I've  run  the  race ;  my  work  is  done ; 

Xo  more  o'er  earth  I'll  roam ; 
My  dearest  friends  I  bid  adieu ; 

Faeeweix,  I'm  going  home  l" 


406  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT, 

The  heavenly  convoy,  waiting,  stand 

To  attend  his  upward  flight ; 
To  introduce  their  brother — friend, 

To  all  the  saints  in  light. 

Methinks  I  see  a  happy  throng 

Of  kindred  spirits  blest ; 
With  eager  joy  they  gather  round 

To  greet  the  stranger  guest. 

"  A  Christie's  come,"  a  herald  cries, 
"From  earth  he  fought  his  way; 

A  '  watchman'  off  our  Zion's  walls; 
Ye  thronging  hosts  give  way." 

He  meekly  marches  toward  the  throne 

To  meet  his  glorious  King ; 
His  coronation  hour  has  come; 

The  saints  and  angels  sing. 

A  "robe,"  a  "harp,"  a  "crown"  is  given — 

He  strikes  his  untried  lyre, 
And  wakens  a  new  strain  of  joy 

Through  all  the  heavenly  choir. 

His  soul  o'erburdened  with  the  weight 

Of  glory  from  the  throne, 
He  casts  his  crown  and,  "Holy!"  cries, 

"To  God  the  holy  One." 

0,  if  when  heaven  is  just  begun, 

Such  rapture  fills  the  soul, 
How  fathomless  that  sea  of  bliss, 

While  endless  ages  roll ! 


CHAPTER  LXII. 

MORRIS  CHAPEL  AND  PARK-STREET. 

In  1848  I  was  appointed  to  Morris  Chapel  in  Cincin- 
nati, for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  and  subscriptions 
for  the  erection  of  a  new  church  edifice  on  the  corner  of 
Park  and  Longworth  streets.  Rev.  William  Herr  was 
appointed  preacher  in  charge  at  Morris  at  the  same 
time.     I  entered  upon   the   peculiar  work  assigned  me 


MORRIS    CHAPEL  —  PARK-STREET.         407 

with  a  firm  reliance  on  my  heavenly  Father  for  support 
and  success.  3Iany  difficulties  soon  presented  them- 
selves to  my  mind,  but  I  prayed  day  and  night  for  God 
to  open  my  way  and  succeed  my  feeble  efforts  with 
his  special  blessing.  "Who  art  thou,  0  great  mountain? 
before  Zerubbabel  thou  shalt  become  a  plain. "  At  an 
early  period  I  obtained  permission  to  make  a  public 
effort  at  Morris  Chapel  on  Sabbath  morning.  I  spent 
much  of  the  week  previous  in  prayer,  fervent,  "im- 
portunate prayer"  in  secret.  And,  as  I  threaded  the 
streets,  my  inward  constant  cry  was,  "Lord,  help  me!" 
At  the  time  appointed  I  preached  a  sermon  from  these 
words,  "It  grieved  them  exceedingly  that  there  was 
come  a  man  to  seek  the  welfare  of  the  children  of  Is- 
rael."    Nehemiah  ii,  10. 

I  pursued  the  following  train  of  thought :  In  this  sub- 
ject, I  remarked,  we  have,  first,  the  true  character  and 
conduct  of  the  friends  of  Zion;  and,  secondly,  the  spirit 
and  conduct  of  her  enemies.  The  former  seeks  her 
welfare  and  delights  in  her  prosperity.  The  latter  re- 
joice in  her  calamities  and  are  grieved  at  her  success. 
Nehemiah,  although  a  captive  Jew  in  a  foreign  land, 
by  the  special  providence  of  God  was  exalted  to  great 
honor  and  dignity  in  the  Persian  court  in  the  reign  of 
Artaxerxes.  He  was  the  "king's  cup-bearer,"  a  post 
of  honor  and  dignity.  But,  although  thus  elevated  and 
surrounded  by  great  pomp  and  regal  glory  in  the  great- 
est court  in  the  world,  the  fires  of  patriotism  still  glowed 
brightly  in  his  bosom.  He  still  had  an  ardent  love  of 
country  and  home;  he  could  not  forget  Jerusalem.  He 
still  cherished  a  fond  remembrance  for  his  brethren  of 
the  captivity.  See  chapter  i,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  and  chapter 
ii.  3,  4,  5. 

I.  THE  TRUE  CHARACTER  AND  CONDUCT  OF  THE  FRIENDS 
OF  THE  CHURCH — THEY  SEEK  HER  "WELFARE." 


408  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

1.  They  mourn  and  iceep  over  her  "  desolatio?is." 
"When  Hanani  came  and  told  Xehemiah  of  the  afflic- 
tion of  his  brethren  of  the  captivity,  he  sat  down  and 
wept,  mourned  certain  days,  and  fasted  and  prayed  be- 
fore the  God  of  heaven.  Nehemiah  i,  4.  He  was  not 
sick,  but  his  "countenance  was  sad/'  Even  the  king 
perceived  that  it  was  nothing  else  but  sorrow  of  heart. 
So  it  is  with  all  true  ministers  and  devoted  "'followers 
of  the  Lamb."  They  mourn  over  the  desolations  and 
declensions  in  Zion.  "Yea,  we  wept  when  we  remem- 
bered Zion." 

2.  They  " seek  her  welfare"  by  laboring  zealously  to 
rebuild  her  walls  and  restore  her  icaste  places. 

When  Nehemiah  heard  of  the  u  great  affliction  and 
reproach  of  the  remnant  that  were  left  of  the  captivity 
in  the  province,"  he  hastened  to  their  relief.  On  his 
arrival  at  Jerusalem,  after  taking  a  survey  of  the  work 
alone,  he  assembled  the  rulers  and  nobles,  and  "said  unto 
them,  Ye  see  the  distress  that  we  are  in,  how  Jerusalem 
lieth  waste,  and  the  gates  thereof  are  burned  with  fire : 
come,  and  let  us  build  up  the  wall  of  Jerusalem,  that  we 
be  no  more  a  reproach. "  Nehemiah  ii,  17.  At  the  close 
of  this  touching  address  the  rulers,  and  nobles,  and 
priests  said,  with  one  accord,  " Let  us  rise  up  and  build." 
So  they  strengthened  their  hands  for  the  good  work. 
Faith  and  works  must  go  together.  We  must  not  only 
"mourn,  weep,  and  fast  certain  days/'  but  pray  and 
work  too. 

3.  They  are  all  engaged  in  the  work  and  of  " one  mind." 
"Then  said  I  unto  the  nobles  and  rulers  and  the  rest 

of  the  people,  The  work  is  great  and  large."  This 
teaches  the  necessity  of  a  division  of  labor.  Some 
worked  on  the  walls,  while  others  repaired  the  gates. 
Each  one  had  a  particular  portion  of  the  work  assigned 
to  him  or  her.     They  were  all  at  it,  from   Eliashib   the 


MORRIS    CHAPEL  —  PARK-STREET.         409 

high-priest,  down  to  the  poorest  servant,  the  "rulers," 
"nobles,"  "priests,"  "men,"  "women;"  and  particular 
mention  is  made  of  "Shallum  the  son  of  Halohesh,  the 
ruler  of  the  half  part  of  Jerusalem,  he  and  his  daugh- 
ters."' Xehemiah  iii,  12.  So  it  must  be  in  the  Church 
of  God — bishops,  elders,  preachers,  stewards,  class-lead- 
ers, Sabbath  school  teachers,  men,  women,  and  children. 

4.  They  are  not  only  all  engaged  in  the  tcork,  hut  con- 
stantly at  it. 

The  prophet  declares  the  "people  had  a  mind  to  work; 
and  they  were  at  it  from  the  rising  of  the  morning  sun 
till  the  stars  appeared.  Every  one  had  his  sword  girded 
by  his  side."  They  neither  bought  nor  sold  lands,  nor 
changed  their  raiment,  "but  continued  in  the  work." 
Neh.  v,  16.  So  of  all  who  seek  the  welfare  of  the  people 
of  God  and  "prefer  Jerusalem  above  their   chief  jov." 

5.  They  labor  in  confidence  and  hope,  with  a  strong 
reliance  on  God  for  success. 

Nehemiah  had  strong  faith.  He  had  prayed  to  the 
God  of  heaven,  day  and  night;  he  claimed  all  that  God 
had  promised.  The  God  of  heaven  will  prosper  us; 
therefore,  we  his  servants  will  arise  and  build.  Our  God 
will  fight  for  us. 

6.  They  are  united. 

"We  are  separated  upon  the  wall,  one  far  from  an- 
other." "We  can  not  defend  ourselves.  "In  what  place 
therefore  ye  hear  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  resort  ye 
thither  unto  us."     Nehemiah  iv,  19,  20. 

II.  The  spirit  and  conduct  of  her  enemies. 

"It  grieves  them  exceedingly  that  there  was  come  a 
man  to  seek  the  welfare  of  the  children  of  Israel." 

1.  They  are  grieved  at  her  prosperity  and  exult  in  her 
calamities. 

How  truthfully  is  this  remark  illustrated  in  the  history 
before  us*  "When  Sanballat  the  Horonite  and  Tobiah 
35 


410  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AX    ITINERANT. 

the  Ammonite  heard  of  the  success  of  the  prophet,  they 
were  grieved  at  heart!"  So  it  is  at  the  present  time  with 
the  enemies  of  the  Church. 

2.  Thry  unite  their  scattered  forces  and  form  a  con- 
tptrctcy  to  slop  the  progress  of  truth  and  rightpoumu 

When  Sanballat  heard  that  the  "walls  of  Jerusalem 
were  made  up/'  he  stirred  up  the  Arabians,  Ammonites, 
and  Ashdodites  to  aid  him  in  stopping  the  progress  of 
the  work.     Xehemiah  iv,  7,  8. 

3.  They  despise  God's  workmen, 

Xehemiah  says,  "They  laughed  us  to  scorn  and  de- 
spised us/'  and  said,  "What  do  these  feeble  Jews?" 
"will  they  fortify  themselves?"  "will  they  sacrifice?" 
"will  they  make  an  end  in  a  day?"  "will  they 
these  stones  out  of  the  rubbish?"  etc.  It  is  even  so  now. 
The  men  employed  by  God  to  preach  are  despised  and 
ridiculed.  They  are  still  a  gazing  stock  and  a  "specta- 
cle unto  men."  The  reproach  of  the  cross  has  not 
ceased.  The  watchword  of  our  adversaries  is  still  heard 
above  the  din  of  battle,  "  Strike  down  the  standard-Uar- 
ers,  and  silence  the  batteries!" 

4.  TJify  ridicule  and  despise  the  work. 

"Even  that  which  they  build,"  said  Tobiah,  "if  a  fox 
go  up  he  shall  even  break  down  their  stone  wall."  Poor 
Tobiah  has  many  representatives  at  the  present  day,  who 
not  only  scorn  Christ's  ministers,  but  despise  the  work 
of  reformation  wrought  through  their  instrumentality. 
"0,"  say  our  enemies,  "the  work  is  spurious,  these 
young  converts  will  not  hold  out,"  etc. 

5.  When  the  icork  of  God  progresses  they  become  en- 
raged 

When  Sanballat  heard  that  the  work  was  progressing 
"he  took  great  indignation  and  mocked  the  Jews." 
And  when  the  Arabians,  Ammonites,  and  Ashdodites 
heard  that  the  breaches  in  the  wall  began  to  be  stopped 


MORRIS    CHAPEL — PARK-STREET.         411 

then  they  were  very  wroth.  How  true  in  seasons  of  re- 
vival ! 

6.  Finally  they  resort  to  strategy  and  intrigue,  vainly 
believing  that  the  end  justifies  the  means. 

When  Sanballat,  and  Tobiah,  and  Geshem  the  Ara- 
bian, and  the  enemies  of  the  prophet  heard  that  the 
"wall  was  builded  and  no  breach  left/'  they  tried  to 
divert  him  from  Ttis  purpose.  "Come  and  let  us  meet 
in  a  village  on  the  plains  of  Ono."  Xehemiah  vi,  2,  3. 
Notice  his  reply,  "/  am  doing  a  great  work,"  I  can  not 
come  down.  "Why  should  the  work  cease  whilst  I 
leave  it  and  come  down  to  you?"  Here  is  an  example 
for  every  laborer  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  They 
importuned  him  and  sent  messengers  four  times  in  vain. 
They  next  impugned  his  motives  and  charged  him  with 
"rebellion,"  building  a  wall  to  "make  himself  a  king." 
They  charged  him  next  with  a  desire  for  popularity, 
that  he  had  "hired  men  to  preach"  about  himself,  and 
to  sound  his  name  abroad.  Finding  all  their  plans  un- 
successful, they  at  last  tried  to  excite  his  fears  for  his 
personal  safety.  "They  seek  to  slay  thee/'  "go  and 
shut  thyself  up  in  the  temple. "  Nehemiah  vi,  10.  His 
heroic  reply  is  worthy  of  everlasting  remembrance, 
"Should  such  a  man  as  I  flee?  And  who  is  there  that 
being  as  I  am  would  go  into  the  temple  to  save  his  life? 
I  will  not  go  in."  He  perceived  God  had  not  sent 
them.  And  neither  the  hired  prophet  nor  the  prophet- 
ess Xodiah  all  combined  could  intimidate  his  spirit  or 
cause  him  to  sound  an  inglorious  retreat  from  the  city. 
I  close  with  these  words  of  encouragement,  warning,  and 
exhortation. 

ENCOURAGEMENT    TO     THE     WORKER. 

They  all  continued  in  the  work,  notwithstanding  there 
was  "much  rubbish"  and  many  discouragements.     Xot« 


412  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

withstanding  the  combined  opposition  of  their  foes  the 
work  went  steadily  forward.  Their  enemies  tried  to 
weaken  the  hands  of  the  workmen,  but  in  answer  to 
prayer  God  was  their  strength  and  song.  The  walls  were 
"finished,"  "for  the  people  had  a  mind  to  work."  They 
kept  the  "dedication"  with  gladness;  God  caused  them 
to  rejoice  with  great  joy — their  " wives  and  children  re- 
joiced, and  the  joy  of  Jerusalem  was  heard  even  afar  off." 

WARNING    TO     OUR    OPPOSERS. 

"And  it  came  to  pass,  that  when  our  enemies  heard 
thereof,  and  all  the  heathen  that  were  about  us  saw 
these  things,  they  were  much  cast  down  in  their  own 
eyes:  for  they  perceived  that  this  work  was  of  God." 
Nehemiah  vi,  16.  "Refrain  from  these  men  and  let 
them  alone  :  for  if  this  counsel  or  this  work  be  of  men, 
it  will  come  to  naught :  but  if  it  be  of  God,  ye  can  not 
overthrow  it;  lest  haply  ye  be  found  even  to  fight  against 
God."  Acts  v,  38,  39.  "Behold,  ye  despisers,  and 
wonder,  and  perish."     Acts  xiii,  41. 

Beloved  brethren  and  sisters  at  Morris  Chapel,  if 
the  walls  of  the  Park-Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
are  built  you  must  do  it.  This  great  and  good  work 
can  easily  be  done  by  this  Church  "if  the  members  have 
a  mind  to  work."  I  have  been  sent  here  by  the  con- 
ference to  "seek  the  welfare  of  the  children  of  Israel." 
I  have  been  appointed  to  your  charge  for  the  special 
purpose  of  building  a  new  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
on  the  corner  of  Park  and  Longworth  streets  in  this 
beautiful  city.  I  have  come  "  praying  to  the  God  of 
fteaven."  I  think  you  are  ready  to  exclaim,  "  The  God 
of  heaven  he  icill  prosper  us,  there/ore  ice  his  servants  will 
arise  and  huild."  Amen.  Then  let  us  all  "strengthen 
our  hands  for  this  work."  It  is  recorded  by  the  proph- 
ets that  the  "  nobles,"  Tekoi,  put  not  their  necks  to  the 
work  of  their  Lord.     In   consequence   of   their  default 


MORRIS    CHAPEL  —  PARK- STREET.         413 

the  Tekoites  had  to  "  repair  another  piece  over  against 
the  great  tower."  If  the  "nobles"  of  "Tekoi"  are  pres- 
ent they  are  at  liberty  to  retire  before  we  proceed  with 
the  collection.  For  I  expect  you  every  one  to  "put 
your  necks  to  the  work  of  your  Lord  "  to-day.  But  if 
the  "nobles"  refuse  to  give,  God,  I  believe,  will  put  it 
into  the  hearts  of  some  liberal  Tekoites  to  increase  his 
subscription  to  make  up  the  deficiency.  "Curse  ye 
Meroz,  said  the  angel  of  the  Lord,  curse  ye  bitterly  the 
inhabitants  thereof;  because  they  came  not  to  the  help 
of  the  Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty." 
Judges  v,  23. 

At  the  close  of  the  discourse  I  lifted  a  collection  and 
subscription,  amounting  in  all  to  more  than  twenty-five 
hundred  dollars.  The  Lord  did  help  me  of  a  truth.  I 
thanked  him  and  "took  courage."  The  building  was 
soon  put  under  contract.  Early  in  the  spring  the  corner- 
stone was  laid,  at  which  eloquent  speeches  were  delivered 
by  Rev.  B.  F.  Tefft,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  M.  Simpson,  D.  D.} 
who,  at  that  time,  was  editor  of  the  Western  Christian 
Advocate.  At  the  close  of  their  remarks  I  made  another 
successful  appeal  to  the  public  in  behalf  of  our  new 
enterprise.  God  raised  us  up  friends  on  the  right  hand 
and  on  the  left.  The  contractors  urged  the  work  forward 
beyond  our  most  sanguine  expectations.  But  just  at  the 
period  when  we  were  certain  of  its  completion  before  the 
close  of  the  summer,  the  Asiatic  cholera  made  its  ap- 
pearance in  our  midst.  The  epidemic  suddenly  retarded 
the  progress  of  the  work,  and  finally  deranged  our  best- 
matured  plans  for  the  future. 

I  had  often  labored  hard  before  in  raising  money  to 
build  and  repair  churches;  but  never  did  I  labor  so  inde- 
fatigably  as  I  did  for  the  board  of  trustees  of  Park- 
Street.  Amid  wind,  rain,  and  sunshine  I  walked  from 
one  part  of  the  city  to  the  other,  getting  a  small  sub 


414         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

scription  here  and  a  small  donation  there.  Large  ones 
were  out  of  the  question  at  that  time.  This  made  my 
work  more  laborious.  At  times  I  was  almost  exhausted 
with  my  continued  exertions,  and  on  one  occasion  I 
fainted  in  the  street.  By  the  middle  of  June  the  house 
was  partly  inclosed,  but  the  epidemic  raged  with  such 
violence  we  could  not  get  it  completed.  I  was  attacked 
with  the  disease  myself  and  rendered  unable  to  do  any 
service  for  several  weeks. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  season  my  old  friend,  who 
made  me  a  donation  of  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  mis- 
sionary society  at  Bethel  Chapel,  called  upon  me  at  my 
boarding-house.  "Mr.  Gaddis,"  said  my  friend,  "I  un- 
derstand you  are  building  another  new  church  somewhere 
in  the  western  part  of  the  city."  I  told  him  I  was. 
"What  time  do  you  expect  to  have  it  completed ?"  I 
answered,  "Early  in  the  fall  if  Providence  should  con- 
tinue to  smile  upon  our  feeble  efforts."      "Well,"  said 

Mr. ,  "I  have  come  to  make  you  another  donation 

of  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  missionary  cause,  which 
you  may  send  up  to  conference  as  the  first  contribution 
from  your  new  Church,  which,  I  understand,  is  located 
on  the  corner  of  Park  and  Longworth  streets.  For  your 
encouragement  I  have  concluded  to  give  one  hundred 
dollars,  missionary  money,  to  every  new  church  that  you 
are  instrumental  in  building  in  this  city."  I  thanked 
him  kindly  and  received  the  money  with  a  tearful  eye 
and  grateful  heart.  But  how  mysterious  are  the  ways  of 
Providence !  In  about  four  weeks  I  was  called  to  preach 
his  funeral.  He  was  not  a  member  of  any  Church  at 
the  time  of  his  decease.  God  grant  that  he  may  "find 
mercy  in  that  day !" 

1  shall  never  forget  the  kindness  shown  me  by  many 
of  the  members  of  Morris  Chapel,  some  of  whom  have 
since  "gone  up  on  high,"  and  are  now  "shining  as  the 


MORRIS    CHAPEL  —  PARK-STREET.         415 

stars  of  the  firmament  forever  and  ever."  The  late 
Joseph  G.  Rust  was  among  the  best  friends  I  ever  had. 
During  my  labors  at  Morris  Chapel,  on  the  1st  of  May, 
1849, 1  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Josephine  Parrott, 
eldest  daughter  of  Thomas  Parrott,  Esq.,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio.  In  this  union  I  have  been  highly  favored  of  the 
Lord.  ""Whoso  findeth  a  wife  findeth  a  good  thing  and 
obtaineth  favor  of  the  Lord/'  Proverbs  xviii,  22.  Ac- 
complished, virtuous,  intelligent,  and  pious,  "  the  heart 
of  her  husband  doth  safely  trust  in  her,  so  that  he  shall 
have  no  need  of  spoil.  She  will  do  him  good  and  not 
evil  all  the  days  of  her  life." 

"  When  thou  chooseth  a  wife  think  not  only  of  thyself, 
But  of  those  God  may  give  thee  of  her, 
That  they  reproach  thee  not  for  their  being. 

c-  s  c<  s  o  9 

Let  her  be  a  child  of  God,  that  she  bring  with  her  a  blessing  to  thy  house , 
A  blessing  above  riches,  and  leading  contentment  in  its  train: 
Let  her  be  an  heir  of  heaven ;  so  shall  she  help  thee  on  thy  way ; 
For  those  who  are  one  in  faith  fight  double-handed  against  evil." 

A  happy  experience  of  nearly  six  years  of  wedded  life 
enables  me  fully  to  indorse  the  truthfulness  of  the  above 
beautiful  lines  of  Tupper.  It  is  very  true  that  human 
life  at  best  is  not  all  sunshine.  The  clouds  will  return 
after  the  rain.  The  peculiar  life  of  an  itinerant  is  one 
of  trial,  sacrifice,  and  "affliction  with  the  people  of  God." 
But  our  sufferings  and  privations  have  been  very  light 
when  contrasted  with  others;  yet  at  times  clouds  have 
arisen,  dense  and  dark  enough  to  obscure  the  sunlight. 
Inward  trials  and,  at  times,  "persecutions  from  without" 
have  befallen  us,  beside  the  "care  of  the  Churches." 
"Every  heart  knoweth  its  own  bitterness."  Although 
at  times  "sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoicing." 

"  There's  many  a  deep  and  hidden  grief 
That  comes  from  sources 
Which  admit  of  no  complaint — from  things 
Of  which  we  can  not,  dare  not  speak." 


416         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

At  such  times  we  can  go  to  the  mercy-seat  and  "cast  our 
burden  on  the  Lord."  0  yes,  "blessed  be  the  God  of 
our  salvation,"  to  the  upright  there  ariseth  light  in  dark 
places  !  I  have  often  experienced,  amid  earth's  changing 
scenes, 

u  There  are  some  happy  moments  in  this  lone 
And  desolate  world  of  ours,  which  will  repay 
The  toil  of  struggling  through  it,  and  alone, 
For  many  a  long,  sad  night  and  weary  day." 


CHAPTER    LXIII. 

A     WARNING     TO     BACKSLIDERS. 

"LET   HEM   THAT   READETH   ITNTDEESTAXD." 

The  following  correspondence  describes  the  awakening 
and  conversion  of  one  of  Ohio's  most  gifted  and  eloquent 
sons.  In  looking  over  an  old  file  of  letters,  I  found  his 
first  letter,  marked  No.  1,  giving  me  a  minute  detail  of 
his  happy  conversion.  Twelve  years  had  fled  and  gone 
since  I  had  received  a  line  from  his  pen.  His  old  letter 
deeply  affected  my  heart,  and  I  concluded  to  copy  a  por- 
tion of  it  and  send  it  to  him.  I  did  so,  and  appended  a 
brief  note,  expressing  my  feelings  toward  him,  with  a 
request  that  he  would  give  a  candid  statement  of  his 
true  spiritual  state.  His  answer  will  be  found  in  letter 
No.  3.  Doubtless  all  who  read  it  will  conspire  to  say 
that  it  reveals  an  appalling  state  of  mind.  The  spirit  of 
a  man  may  sustain  his  infirmity,  but  a  wounded  spirit, 
who  can  bear? 

LETTER  NO.   1. 

"A county,  Ohio,  Dec.  10, 1836. 

"Dear  Brother  Gaddis, — I  must  satisfy  a,  desire  I 
have  had  for  five  days  of  writing  you  a  scroll.  In  the 
first  place,  let  me  say,  Thanks  be  to  God,  who  giveth  us 


A     WARNING    TO    BACKSLIDERS.  417 

the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  have  experi- 
enced the  regenerating  influence  of  that  religion  that  is 
sweeter  than  life,  and  stronger  than  death,  through  the 
all-sufficient  atonement  of  my  blessed  Savior !  This  is 
the  sum  of  the  communication  I  have  been  so  desirous  to 
make  to  you;  but  I  have  waited  thus  long  to  see  if  the 
same  ecstatic  feeling  would  continue,  and  finding  that  it 
does,  and  that  the  beauties  of  our  holy  religion  keep 
continually  revealing  themselves  to  my  hitherto  benighted 
soul,  I  could  no  longer  refrain  from  giving  you  what  I 
know  must  be  soul-cheering  information  to  you.  I  feel 
like  saying,  Glory,  honor,  praise,  and  power  be  unto  the 
Lamb  forever!  I  feel  like  praising  God,  and  do  not  feel 
like  doing  much  else.  0,  brother,  the  joy  and  heavenly 
delight  I  feel  in  my  soul  just  now,  while  writing,  I  can 
not  express  !     I  can  say,  with  the  poet, 

1  Tongue  can  not  express 
The  sweet  comfort  and  peace ' 

I  now  feel  and  have  felt  for  the  past  five  days.  I  have 
tasted  of  the  sweet  stream  of  living  waters,  and  can  say, 
with  good  old  David,  'The  Lord  is  good/  I  have  found  the 
1  pearl  of  great  price/  Blessed  be  the  God  of  my  salvation  ! 
"Dear  brother,  I  must  now  tell  you  how  these  things 
have  happened.  For  the  last  six  weeks  I  had  been  going 
back,  and  for  the  last  four  weeks  very  neglectful  of  duty, 
and  very  unhappy  in  my  mind;  and  though  I  did  not 
become  outwardly  wicked,  or  profane,  I  was  far  from  liv- 
ing:; as  becomes  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  Yes, 
my  brother,  I  was  woefully  backsliding,  I  must  confess  it, 
and  the  reflection  makes  me  loathe  myself.  0,  it  shows 
how  wonderfully  depraved  my  heart  is  !  In  the  forepart 
of  last  week  I  began  to  feel  deeply  convicted  for  sin.  I 
continued  so  till  Sunday,  at  which  time  my  feelings  be- 
came desperate,  when  I  enacted  a  scene  of  which  I  will 


118         FOOT-PRINTS    Ol1    AN    ITINERANT. 

tell  you  when  we  meet  again.  What  I  did  is  only  known 
to  a  few  persons,  though  afterward  it  appeared  to  me 
every  one  knew  it.  To  me  the  history  of  last  Sabbath 
shows,  in  the  highest  colors,  the  natural  wickedness  of 
my  own  heart.  Had  a  worldling  done  the  same  it  might 
not  have  injured  him  in  his  feelings,  but  might  prob- 
ably have  gained  him  applause.  This  I  will  explain 
when  we  meet.  I  refused  to  go  to  meeting  morning 
and  evening,  and  when  bedtime  arrived  I  tried  to  sleep, 
but  there  is  no  rest  to  the  wicked  day  or  night — I  could 
not  sleep.  I  never  spent  so  miserable  a  night  in  my 
life.  Those  who  saw  me,  during  the  afternoon,  were 
seriously  concerned  for  me ;  they  now  tell  me  I  looked 
wild,  etc.  In  the  night,  however,  I  concluded  to  pray, 
and  fervently,  too.  The  next  morning  I  was  ashamed  to 
be  seen  in  the  street,  and  more  especially  by  brother  B., 
the  preacher  in  charge  of  this  circuit.  I  thought  every 
body  knew  what  had  passed  in  my  breast  the  day  before, 
but  none,  I  suppose,  knew  any  thing,  only  for  some  re- 
marks which,  in  the  fury  of  my  feelings,  I  had  made.  I 
kept  out  of  the  way  of  Rev.  J.  B.,  our  preacher,  till  after 
dinner,  at  which  time  I  learned  he  was  hunting  for  me. 
I  did  not  know  what  to  do;  I  went  to  the  woods  and 
prayed  again;  I  then  came  to  town,  and  met  him  in  the 
streets  without  much  difficulty.  He  was  smiling,  having 
learned  the  state  of  my  feelings;  he  conversed  with  me 
about  two  hours,  during  which  time  he  cheered  me  up 
considerably.  In  the  evening  we  went  to  the  general 
class  meeting.  The  meeting  was  opened,  and  progressed 
some  length  of  time,  without  my  being  conscious  of  what 
others  were  doing — I  was  so  busy  with  my  own  heart — at 
which  time  my  feelings  began  to  grow  better  and  better 
till,  before  the  meeting  closed,  I  felt  like  shouting,  '  Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest !'  I  have  felt  so  almost  ever  since, 
and  were  it  not  for  the  recollection  of  last  Sunday,  I 


A    WARNING    TO     BACKSLIDERS.  419 

would  have  no  "waves  of  trouble  crossing  my  peaceful 
breast.  I  want  to  write  more,  but  must  stop.  Tell 
brother  Baughman  the  story  of  the  Redeemer's  love  to 
me,  and  do  you  and  him  sing  over  my  case, 

'  Sweet  rivers  of  redeeming  love 
Lie  just  before  my  eyes.' 

I  never  wanted  to  see  you  and  brother  B.  one-tenth  part 
as  anxiously  in  my  life  as  I  have  this  week.  Brother  B. 
received  me  at  the  altar,  you  wrote  my  name  on  the  class- 
book,  and  brother  Swormstedt  baptized  me;  but  the  Lord 
has  pardoned  my  sins.  Brother,  pray  for  me,  and  may  the 
seals  of  your  ministry  be  numerous  !  Give  my  Christian 
love- — for  I  can  now  give  that — to  brother  B.  Xo  more 
at  present.  Yours,  in  the  never-to-be-severed  bonds  of 
love  and  fellowship, ." 

LETTER  NO.   2. 

"A cou>ty,  Ohio,  Jan.  19,  1837. 

w  My  Dear  Brother, — By  the  mercies  of  kind  Heaven 
I  am  again  permitted  to  write  you.  Having  been  absent 
during  the  last  two  weeks  of  December,  I  did  not  re- 
ceive yours  of  the  19th  ult,  till  the  last  of  the  month. 
The  feelings  I  experienced  while  reading  it  I  will  not 
attempt  to  describe.  My  soul  was  filled  with  gratitude  to 
the  Giver  of  all  good,  and  my  heart,  in  some  degree, 
melted  into  tenderness.  Your  description  of  the  feel- 
ings you  experienced  on  the  receipt  of  the  intelligence 
of  my  conversion,  caused  an  enlargement  of  soul  and 
fullness  of  joy  that  I  can  not  express — to  think  that  I. 
unworthy  as  I  am,  undeserving  of  any  thing,  should 
have  been  the  occasion  of  rejoicing  to  some  of  the  fol- 
lowers of  Christ ;  and  that  I  should  have  been  the  sub- 
ject  of  the  grace  of  God,  that  was  to  'infuse  new 
energy  and  new  zeal'  into  the  heart  of  some  of  his  min- 
istering servants,  caused  me  to  feel  under  renewed  obli- 


420  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

gations  to  love  and  serve  that  God  who  hath  done  so 
much  for  me.  In  consequence  of  your  expectation  of 
being  at  11.,  I  went  to  the  quarterly  meeting  with  buoy- 
ant spirits,  and  with  the  view  of  meeting  with  you.  In 
that,  however,  I  was  disappointed;  but  disappointments 
are  allotted  to  us  on  earth,  but,  thanks  be  to  God !  we 
hasten  to  a  land  where,  if  we  are  faithful  to  the  grace 
already  given,  we  may  arrive  in  safety  and  spend  an 
eternity  free  from  disappointments,  pains,  and  sorrows 
of  every  kind.  1  would  like  to  have  seen  you  at  R. ;  I 
would  like  to  see  you  now.  It  seems  to  me  that  I  could 
talk  to  you  face  to  face  on  the  great  subject  of  salvation 
much  more  warmly  and  satisfactorily  than  I  can  write. 

"But  though  I  was  disappointed  in  meeting  with  you, 
I  was  not  disappointed  in  meeting  with  our  great  Mas- 
ter. He  was  in  the  midst  of  us,  and  we  had  a  good 
time.  Rev.  William  B.  Christie  preached  the  most  soul- 
stirring  sermon  that  I  have  heard  for  years ;  I  could  lis- 
ten to  him  a  whole  day  without  tiring.  I  constantly 
enjoy  a  good  degree  of  peace,  and  can  contemplate  the 
great  subject  of  salvation  and  the  atonement  with  de- 
light, and  can  discover  new  beauties  in  our  holy  religion 
the  more  I  investigate  it. 

'Religion!  what  treasures  untold 
Resides  in  that  heavenly  word !' 

1  feel  more  and  more  a  dislike  and  hatred  for  sin,  and 
yet  the  devil  keeps  telling  me  I  have  no  religion.  Dur- 
ing the  last  week  temptations  have  surrounded  me,  and 
Satan  has  told  me  many  things.  I  have  prayed,  and  do 
now  pray,  to  be  armed  'with  jealous  care/  and  that 
watching  power  may  be  imparted  to  me  every  hour. 
Satan  may  say  what  he  pleases — and  he  seems  determ- 
ined to  buffet  me — he  appears  loth  to  let  me  go;  but  1 
know  that  I  enjoy  peace  of  mind,  and  feel  that,  by  the 


A    WARNING     TO     BACKSLIDERS.  421 

death  and  sufferings  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  have 
received  pardon  and  the  remission  of  my  sins ;  and, 
though  I  feel  that  I  am  a  wicked  and  rebellious  sinner, 
and  that  by  nature  I  have  a  corrupt  heart,  full  of  pride 
and  deceit,  yet  I  feel  conscious  that  I  have  attained  the 
grace  of  justification.  I  pray  fervently  for  the  grace  of 
humility,  for  I  know  that  pride  is  my  most  fearful  enemy. 
Pray  the  Lord  that  I  may  be  humble,  brother  G-addis.  I 
heard  of  you  at  the  Georgetown  meeting;  I  learned  you 
had  a  good  time,  and  that  fourteen,  or  more,  were  added 
to  the  Church.  Give  God  the  glory  !  I  sincerely  rejoice 
to  hear  of  awakenings  under  your  ministry,  and  I  hope 
and  pray  that  you  may  have  a  rich  harvest  of  souls  for 
your  hire  this  year.  In  W.  we  are  rather  cold  and  indif- 
ferent; we  need  stirring  up.  Energy  seems  to  be  want- 
ing; I  for  one  have  to  lament  my  coldness.  0,  what  an 
unfeeling  heart  I  have !  but  the  Lord  can  and  will  soften 
it.  My  dear  brother  Gaddis,  we  enjoy  precious  privi- 
leges. May  the  Lord  forbid  that  they  should  be  misim- 
proved;  but,  through  the  mercies  of  God,  may  they  be 
unto  us  <a  savor  of  life  unto  life !'     Pray  for  me. 

"  Your  brother  in  Christ, '*• 

LETTER  NO.  3. 

"  S couxty,  Ohio,  Jan.  2,  1849. 

"  My  Dear  Friend, — It  is  always  a  pleasure  to  me  to 
hear  from  you.  Your  letters  are  always  of  the  highest 
interest ;  and  I  can  assure  you  that  your  very  kind  letter 
of  the  12th  instant  was  not  only  received  in  the  utmost 
kindness,  but  with  delight.  I  rejoice  to  hear  of  your 
present  enjoyments,  and  your  bright  hopes  of  the  future, 
when  your  time  on  earth  shall  have  closed.  I  regret 
to  hear  that  you  are  in  poor  health,  and  apprehend  a 
short  career  in  life.  Your  religious  exercises  and  expert 
ence  are  of  the  most  touching  kind.      *         *         *         * 


422         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

I  was  not  only  pleased  to  hear  from  you,  in  the  highest 
hopes  and  sweet  consolations  of  religion,  but  your  letter 
was  received  as  a  token  of  our  former  familiar  inter- 
course, and  as  another  proof  of  the  deep  and  abiding 
interest  you  have  always  manifested  in  my  present  and 
eternal  happiness;  but,  at  the  same  time,  it  touched  a 
cord  that  awakened  the  deepest  feelings  of  anguish  and 
remorse  that  a  soul  could  feel.  You  refer  to  the  year 
1836.  How  changed  the  scene  with  me  now!  I  shud- 
der and  tremble  while  I  attempt  to  describe.  Then  I 
was  young,  and  in  good  health  and  spirits,  and  had  flat- 
tering prospects  before  me  in  life;  and,  better  than  all,  I 
enjoyed  peace  and  tranquillity  of  mind — I  felt  that  I  en- 
joyed a  Savior's  love;  now  I  am  past  middle  life,  and  in 
feeling  and  appearance  quite  old,  afflicted  with  a  linger- 
ing, annoying,  and  painful  disease.  My  business  is  gone, 
and  my  prospects  are  gone;  my  means  are  well-nigh  ex- 
hausted, my  constitution  broken  down,  and  my  mind 
shattered  and  spirits  all  gone;  and,  with  all,  my  peace 
and  hopes  of  the  future  are  gone.  What  a  contrast! 
I  am  now,  of  all  the  men  of  my  acquaintance,  the  most 
miserable.  It  will  be  four  years  in  June  next  since  I 
attended  to  any  business  worth  speaking  of.  During  all 
that  time  I  have  been  constantly  under  medical  treat- 
ment. I  am  entirely  secluded  from  society;  I  go  into 
no  company;  my  feelings  are  of  the  most  horrible  char- 
acter. The  effects  of  my  disease  are  to  constantly  cloud 
the  mind  with  gloom  and  despondency,  and  press  down 
the  spirits.  My  disease,  in  the  first  place,  was  not  seri- 
ous or  alarming;  it  was  the  result  of  imprudence  and  a 
little  excess  in  living.  The  symptoms,  however,  alarmed 
me,  and  I  subjected  myself  to  the  treatment  of  a  physi- 
cian, who  never  knew  what  was  the  real  cause  of  my 
complaint,  and  treated  me  for  a  disease  I  never  had. 
The  original  complaint  was  discovered  and  cured  long 


A     WARNING     TO     BACKSLIDERS.  423 

since,  and  for  three  years  I  have  been  laboring  to  relieve 
the  artificial  one  that  my  first  physician  inflicted  upon 
me. 

"  You  state  in  your  letter  that  you  do  not  know  whether 
I  am  in  the  Church  or  not.  I  answer,  I  am  not  now,  and 
have  not  been  for  as  much  as  nine  years.  I  will  say  to 
you  on  that  subject  what  I  never  said  before.  I  was 
strongly  impressed  with  the  idea — which  was,  also,  often 
suggested  to  me  by  friends — that  it  was  my  duty  to 
preach;  that  idea  I  resisted,  and  determined  I  would 
not  yield  to  it.  I  thought  I  could  not  bear  such  a  cross, 
and  felt  that  I  was  not  worthy  to  undertake  such  a  re- 
sponsible station  in  the  Church.  From  that  time  my 
enjoyment  in  religion  began  to  grow  less,  and  I  became 
less  punctual  in  my  duties,  till  I  became  entirely  care- 
less, and  finally  concluded  that  I  was  acting  hypocrit- 
ically to  remain  in  the  Church.  You  know  I  despise 
hypocrisy,  and  I  could  not  think  of  living  the  life  of  a 
hypocrite  in  my  own  estimation ;  I  therefore  left  the 
Church,  and  from  that  day  to  this  I  have  been  a  dis- 
contented and  miserable  man.  While  I  was  in  health  I 
could  get  along  by  immersing  myself  in  business,  poli- 
tics, and  money-getting;  since  my  health  has  failed  I 
have  no  resources — I  am  without  any  stay  to  support  me. 
/  have  neither  hope  in  this  life  nor  the  next!  For  some 
years  after  I  left  the  Church,  I  lived  a  worse  life,  in  some 
respects,  than  I  ever  did ;  but  I  had  conquered  my  worst 
habits  and  strongest  propensity — that  of  excessive  drink- 
ing— before  I  was  taken  sick.  My  heart,  however,  be- 
came hardened,  and  remains  so.  I  have,  within  the  last 
four  years,  spent  hundreds  of  sleepless  nights  I  I  have 
wept,  I  have  cried,  in  the  bitterness  of  reflection,  till, 
long  since,  I  have  lost  the  ability  to  shed  tears.  I  am, 
as  before  said,  the  most  miserable  man  of  my  acquaint- 
ance ;  and  I  am  even  constrained,  in  truth,  to  say,  that 


124        FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

my  present  wretched  condition  of  mind  and  body  is,  in 
my  judgment,  in  consequence  of  leaving  the  Church, 
and  ceasing  to  endeavor  to  do  my  duty  to  the  Church 
and  my  Maker  in  that  station.  Alas !  what  a  conse- 
quence!       What  a  fearful  thing  to  raist   the   living  God! 

"  In  the  first  place,  the  irregular  habits  that  induced 
my  disease  would  have  been  avoided  had  I  remained  in 
the  Church,  and  lived  as  the  Church  requires.  I,  there- 
fore, trace  all  my  present  grievances,  and  past  excrucia- 
ting pains,  to  &  perverse  resistance  of  the  teachings  of  the 
divine  Spirit.  My  heart  is  now  callous,  and  my  imagina- 
tion is  full  of  abominations,  the  natural  result  of  my 
horrible  affliction.  I  am  in  no  situation  for  thoughtful, 
serious  exercises  of  mind;  and  yet  I  relish  the  Bible, 
and  like  to  read  it  and  sacred  literature  generally.  I 
would  give  worlds  on  worlds,  if  I  had  them,  to  feel  as 
you  do!  In  the  bitterness  of  anguish  I  reflect  upon  the 
past,  and  look  forward  to  the  future.  I  can  not,  in  the 
nature  of  things,  live  long,  and  yet  I  can  not  appreciate 
the  fact,  staring  me  in  the  face  as  it  does.  The  acute- 
ness  of  feeling  in  my  heart  has  ceased,  and,  by  long 
habit,  I  have  become  somewhat  indifferent  to  every 
thing.  Thousands  of  times  have  I  wished  to  cease  to 
exist,  to  deliver  me  from  my  present  condition.  I  often 
wish  I  had  never  been  blessed  with  existence.  My  pres- 
ent physical  condition  is  horrible;  my  mental,  if  possi- 
ble, is  still  worse.  You  ask,  '  Shall  I  meet  you  in  heav- 
en?' The  Lord  only  knows;  I  have  no  well-grounded 
hope  now!  On  the  contrary,  with  me  all  is  darkness, 
gloom,  despair! 

"I  write,  I  know,  on  such  a  subject,  altogether  too 
tamely,  but  I  have  ceased  to  have  those  emotions  that 
will  make  me  write  in  any  other  manner  than  coldly, 
even  in  describing  my  miserable  situation.  I  am  glad 
you  wrote  me.     I  have  ceased  to  feel  much  interest  in 


A    WARNING    TO    BACKSLIDERS.  425 

every  thing.  Many  of  my  friends  look  upon  me  as  lost  to 
all  useful  purposes,  and  say  I  am  hypochondriacal  The 
consequence  is,  that  but  few  take  any  interest  in  me  in 
any  way  whatever.  Yery  few  know  any  thing  about  my 
condition  or  disease.  I  have  written  to  you  in  the  free 
dom  of  consequences.  I  am  glad  you  wrote  me ;  for  I 
have  been  wishing  for  an  excuse  to  write  to  you.  Give 
me  your  counsel,  as  well  as  your  good  wishes  and  ardent 
prayers,  which  I  can,  I  trust,  in  some  sort,  appreciate. 

"My  dear  friend — I  would  say  brother,  if  I  thought 
I  ought  to  use  that  endearing  word — what  my  fate  is  to 
be  is  a  subject  at  which  the  thought  makes  me  shudder. 
I  sometimes  conclude  I  have  sinned  away  my  day  of 
grace.  I  feel  that  I  am  a  wretched,  miserable  man,  with 
few  friends  to  sympathize  with  me  or  care  about  me.  If 
I  could  feel  assured  that,  when  I  pass  from  the  shores 
of  time,  my  troubles  would  be  at  an  end,  even  in  my 
affliction  I  would  wait  in  the  fullness  of  joy.  Alas  !  I 
fear  I  shall  not  be  so  blessed.  I  wish  you  would  write, 
advising  fully  what  course  may  be  calculated  to  produce 
those  feelings  in  the  heart  which  result  from  the  enjoy- 
ment of  religion,  which  religion  my  judgment  approves. 
*  *  *  *  This  letter  *  *  *  * 
My  pride,  which  has  always  been  my  worst  enemy,  you 
discover,  is  not  yet  subdued.  I  hope  you  will  again 
recover  your  health,  and  live  a  long  time  yet  to  con- 
jnue  your  usefulness  to  the  Church  and  the  world. 

"  Your3,  in  truth  and  friendship,         — ." 

36 


426         FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 


CHAPTER   LXIV. 

COLUMBIA-STREET     CHARGE,     SPRINGFIELD 
OHIO,      1849. 

In  the  fall  of  1849  I  succeeded  Rev.  Charles  Elliott, 
D.  D.,  in  the  Columbia-Street  station,  Springfield,  Clarke 
county,  Ohio.  This  was  a  very  interesting  field  of  min- 
isterial labor.  The  High-Street  charge  was  just  organ- 
ized, and  held  regular  services  in  the  Springfield  High 
School.  Notwithstanding  this  the  congregations  at  Co- 
lumbia-Street still  continued  very  large.  I  commenced 
my  labors  among  them  from  these  words:  "For  we  are 
come  as  far  as  to  you  also,  in  preaching  the  Gospel  of 
Christ/'  2  Cor.  x,  1-1.  The  Lord  of  hosts  was  with  us 
on  that  day  to  make  his  word  a  source  of  comfort  to  very 
many  hearts. 

I  found  the  charge  much  scattered,  which  rendered 
the  pastoral  work  onerous.  Early  in  the  winter  God 
made  known  his  reviving  power  in  our  midst.  On  the 
third  day  of  December,  while  preaching  from  these  words, 
"Lord,  why  casteth  thou  off  my  soul?  why  hidest  thou 
thy  face  from  me?" — Ps.  lxxxviii,  14 — we  had  a  time  of 
general  weeping  and  searching  of  hearts.  On  the  even- 
ing of  that  same  day  mourners  approached  the  altar  for 
prayer.  Before  the  expiration  of  the  old  year  we  were 
favored  with  a  season  of  most  gracious  visitation.  This 
blessed  work  continued  till  the  opening  of  spring.  In 
April  my  health  began  seriously  to  decline,  and  it  was 
with  much  difficulty  that  I  filled  my  regular  appoint- 
ments. In  May  I  attended  the  anniversary  of  the  Sun- 
day School  Union  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
held  in  "Wesley  Chapel,  Cincinnati.  This  was  a  deeply- 
interesting  occasion.     At  the  close  of  the  exercises  I  was 


COLUMBIA-STREET,     SPRINGFIELD.       427 

taken  violently  sick,  and  did  not  return  home  for  more 
than  two  weeks ;  but  in  the  midst  of  the  "  furnace "  I 
was  enabled  to  lean,  by  faith,  on  my  blessed  Jesus.  0, 
the  peace  and  joy  of  my  soul  during  that  illness ! 

Our  first  child,  Thomas  Parrott  Gaddis,  was  born  at 
Dayton,  June  5,  1850.  At  Chillicothe,  during  confer- 
ence, I  had  a  slight  hemorrhage  from  the  lungs,  or  throat, 
which  enfeebled  me  so  that  I  was  not  able  to  attend  to 
business  while  there.  I  was  returned  to  Columbia-Street 
charge  another  year,  and  commenced  my  labors  on  Sab- 
bath night.  I  asked  God  for  a  special  token  of  his  favor 
in  the  commencement  of  the  year,  to  inspire  fresh  cour- 
age in  the  hearts  of  his  people.  It  was  granted.  u  The 
glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the  house,"  and  two  joined. 
Halleluiah !  Amen.  It  was  the  beginning  of  good  times 
for  Springfield. 

Late  in  the  fall  I  had  concluded  to  publish  a  volume 
of  sermons,  called  the  "Ohio  Conference  Offering/'  I 
was  unaccustomed  to  mental  labor  of  this  kind.  The 
work  necessary  to  prepare  this  volume  for  the  press,  in 
addition  to  my  regular  duties  in  the  station,  was  quite 
too  much  for  my  shattered  nerves.  God  favored  us  with 
another  great  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  about 
two  hundred  were  soundly  converted  to  God,  and  a  great 
many  were  added  to  the  Church.  My  old  friend,  Eev. 
Joseph  M.  Trimble,  D.  D..  then  stationed  in  Cincinnati, 
came  up  to  my  help,  and  preached  several  eloquent  ser- 
mons, much  to  the  comfort  and  edification  of  the  Church 
of  God.  Early  in  the  spring  I  was  attacked  with  laryn- 
gitis, from  which  I  suffered  much  during  the  summer. 
In  the  month  of  May  the  "Conference  Offering"  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  printers  at  Cincinnati.  The 
editing  of  the  work  gave  me  much  perplexity  and  trouble 
of  mind,  calling  me  off  from  the  duties  of  the  station  at 
periods  when  I  was  least  able  to  endure  the  extra  fatigue. 


428         FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

I  had;  also,  to  become  personally  responsible  to  the  pub- 
lisher for  the  entire  expenses  of  its  publication.  When 
the  work  was  completed,  I  took  a  short  journey  to  De- 
troit, Michigan,  to  recover  my  health;  but  I  was  not 
permitted  to  rest  there.  I  preached  once  before  my  de- 
parture, and  also  once  during  the  session  of  the  Michi- 
gan conference,  at  Monroe.  I  returned  home  much  the 
worse  for  my  trip,  to  assist  in  making  preparations  for 
the  session  of  our  conference^  which  was  to  be  held  in 
Columbia-Street  Church,  at  Springfield.  The  trial  of 
preparation,  the  fatigue  and  excitement  of  that  confer- 
ence, at  the  close  of  a  hard  year's  ministerial  toil,  com- 
pletely prostrated  my  nervous  system.  I  was  scarcely 
able  to  keep  out  of  my  bed  for  several  days  after  the  ad- 
journment of  the  session.  This  was  the  last  session  of 
the  old  Ohio  conference.  The  next  spring  another  con- 
ference was  set  off  in  the  south-west,  by  the  General  con- 
ference, which  was  held  at  Boston. 

This  new  conference  is  designated  the  Cincinnati  an- 
nual conference.  It  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  the 
Ohio  river,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Indiana  state  line,  to 
the  southern  bounds  of  the  North  Ohio  conference;  and 
thence  eastwardly  along  said  line  so  as  to  exclude  Sidney 
and  Delaware  districts,  of  the  North  Ohio  conference,  to 
the  boundary  of  the  Ohio  conference,  at  its  junction  with 
the  southern  line  of  the  North  Ohio  conference;  thence 
in  a  south-easterly  direction  with  said  western  line  of  the 
Ohio  conference,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  Brush  creek. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  fields  of  labor  in 
Ohio. 

A  good  brother  of  the  name  of  Mc.  died,  during  my 
labors  in  the  Springfield  station,  a  very  tranquil  death. 
Although  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  Church  for  some 
time,  he  had  neglected  to  consecrate  himself  to  God  in 
the  sacred  ordinance  of  baptism.     A  short  time  before 


COLUMBIA-STREET,     SPRINGFIELD.       429 

his  departure  from  this  vale  of  tears,  I  was  called  upon 
to  perform  this  holy  rite.  After  I  had  consecrated  him 
to  God,  I  asked  him  if  he  did  not  wish  to  have  his  two 
little  children  baptized  also.  He  burst  into  a  flood  of 
tears,  and  called  his  wife  to  his  dying  bed,  and  addressed 
her  as  follows :  "  My  dearest  wife,  I  must  soon  die  and 
leave  you  and  my  sweet  children.  After  I  am  dead  and 
gone  you  will  often  be  sad  and  lonely ;  then  you  will  feel 
the  need  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  to  support, 
cheer,  and  comfort  you  more  than  you  have  done  while  I 
was  living.  I  believe  you  will  seek  religion,  and  join  the 
Church,  and  prepare  to  meet  me  in  the  'better  land,' 
'where  the  inhabitants  never  sicken  and  die.'  As  soon 
as  you  are  converted,  and  unite  with  the  people  of  God, 
I  want  you  to  take  these  dear  children  of  ours  to  the 
sanctuary,  and  consecrate  them  to  God  in  holy  baptism. 
Will  you  do  it  V  His  almost  heart-broken  companion 
responded,  "  Yes,  I  will  I" 

Not  long  after  this  interesting  interview,  brother  Mc. 
died  in  great  peace.  I  attended  his  funeral,  and  did  not 
fail  to  remind  the  widow  of  his  request  and  her  promise. 
During  the  progress  of  the  revival,  the  following  winter, 
she  experienced  an  interest  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb, 
and  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Soon 
after  her  connection  with  the  Columbia-Street  charge, 
she  presented  her  two  fatherless  children  at  the  altar  for 
holy  baptism.  I  never  shall  forget  that  lovely  and  affect- 
ing scene.  I  fancied  the  spirit  of  the  departed  father 
mingled,  unperceived,  in  the  assembly,  to  witness  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  last  dying  request.  What  a 
happy  meeting  above  awaits  that  wife  and  her  children, 
if  they  love  God  and  serve  him  faithfully  on  earth ! 

"  0,  to  think  of  meeting  there, 
The  friends  whose  grave  received  our  tears ; 
The  daughter  loved,  the  -wife  adored, 
To  our  widow'd  arms  restored ; 


430  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

And  all  the  joys  which  death  did  sever, 

Given  to  us  again  forever  ! 

b  •  '  ■    •  o   •••'■'•  m 

Who  -would  not  long  from  earth  to  fly, 
•3  o  o  a  o  o 

When  the  glorious  prospect  lies 
Full  before  his  raptured  eyes?" 


CHAPTER    LXV 

SPRINGFIELD. 

Springfield  is  a  beautiful  city,  situated  on  the  Na- 
tional road,  and  on  the  line  of  railroads  connecting  Cin- 
cinnati with  Sandusky,  Dayton,  and  Xenia.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  handsome  and  fertile  country,  and  is  noted 
for  the  morality  and  intelligence  of  its  inhabitants.  By 
many  it  is  considered  the  most  beautiful  city  within  the 
limits  of  Ohio.  The  eastern  fork  of  Mad  river  washes  it 
on  the  north.  Through  the  place  runs  the  Lagonda,  a 
swift  and  never-failing  mill-stream,  affording  fine  water- 
power. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Springfield  were  David 
Lowry,  in  1795;  John  Humphreys  and  James  Dement, 
in  1799;  Grifiith  Foos,  in  1801;  and  Walter  Smallwood, 
in  1804.  At  this  period  the  total  number  of  log-cabins 
did  not  exceed  twelve.  The  first  school  was  opened  in 
1806,  by  Nathaniel  Pinkered.  The  first  meeting  for 
preaching  was  held  in  Mr.  Foos's  tavern,  by  a  Baptist 
minister  by  the  name  of  Thomas,  in  1803.  The  first 
Church  organization  was  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  They  held  their  first  meetings  in  Pinkered's 
school-house.  Rev.  John  Sale  and  Rev.  John  Kobler 
were  the  first  to  minister  to  them  in  holy  things.  The 
first  Methodist  Church  edifice  was  erected  in  Springfield 
in  1814.     It  was  built  on  in-lot  number  40,  purchased 


SPRINGFIELD.  481 

from  Maddox  Fisher,  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars,  and  deeded  September  7,  1815,  to  Saul  Henkle, 
James  Montgomery,  John  Burgess,  Jacob  Harinsburger, 
Jacob  Single,  William  M'Cartney,  and  "William  Rose, 
trustees  in  trust,  etc.  This  old  frame  edifice  remains  to 
this  time,  but  has  been  occupied  as  a  dwelling  for  many 
years.  In  1831  the  trustees  purchased  from  Col.  John 
Dougherty  forty-eight  square  rods  of  ground  on  the  south 
east  corner  of  Columbia  and  West  streets.  On  this  lot 
they  caused  to  be  erected  the  present  Church  edifice,  a 
most  spacious  building,  with  side  and  end  galleries.  It 
was  dedicated  November  23,  1833.  The  society  was  or 
ganized  into  a  station  in  the  fall  of  1840,  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Young  appointed  preacher  in  charge.  Rev.  Solomon 
Howard,  Rev.  J.  W.  Weakley,  Rev.  W.  Herr,  Rev.  Uriah 
Heath,  Rev.  R.  S.  Foster,  and  Rev.  Charles  Elliott,  D.  D., 
preceded  me  in  this  station.  The  High-Street  Church 
edifice,  adjoining  the  Springfield  High  School,  was  built 
in  1850,  and  dedicated  July  27,  1851.  This  society  is  a 
branch  from  Columbia-Street  charge,  and  was  first  organ- 
ized in  1849,  under  the  administration  of  Rev.  Charles 
Elliott,  D.  D.,  who  first  supplied  them  with  preaching  in 
the  basement  of  the  Springfield  High  School.  A  num- 
ber of  excellent  institutions  of  learning  are  now  in  suc- 
cessful operation  in  Springfield,  among  which  the  Female 
College  and  Springfield  High  School  stands  foremost. 
The  first  edifice  was  erected  by  a  "joint  stock  company/' 
and  remained  under  their  control  till  the  year  1839,  at 
which  time  it  was  transferred  to  the  Ohio  annual  confer- 
ence, upon  condition  that  the  conference  would  assume 
all  its  liahih'ties,  and  keep  up  in  future  a  school  of  the 
highest  grade.  The  school  was  first  opened  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Gonzales,  in  1840. 
He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Chandler  Robbins,  now  proprie- 
tor and  Instructor  of  Greenway  Boarding-School  for  Boys 


432  FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

and  late  pastor  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  that  city. 
Rev.  Solomon  Howard,  D.  D.,  succeeded  Mr.  Robbins,  and 
was  assisted  by  Enoch  G-.  Dial,  as  Professor  of  Languages. 
Soon  after  Doctor  Howard  became  the  Principal  the 
school  was  divided  into  two  departments,  male  and  female, 
both  occupying  the  same  building.  In  184€  Mr.  Dial 
resigned  his  professorship,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Harrison, 
now  the  Principal  of  Carlisle  Seminary,  was  appointed  in 
his  place.  The  following  year  Mrs.  Louisa  Mulliken,  an 
amiable  and  accomplished  lady,  was  employed  as  Precep- 
tress and  Instructress  in  French.  The  institution  is  at 
present  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  John  W.  TTeakley, 
A.  M.j  who  is  assisted  by  five  efficient  teachers.  For  the 
last  ten  years  the  average  attendance  of  students  has 
been  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred.  Within 
the  last  two  years  the  trustees  have  enlarged  and  beauti- 
fied the  college  edifice.  The  building  now  occupied  is 
nearly  one  hundred  feet  long,  by  fifty  feet  wide,  and  four 
stories  high.  The  style  of  architecture  is  modern  Italian, 
and  is  the  handsomest  and  most  imposing  public  building 
in  the  city.  The  President  resides  in  it,  and  boards  all 
the  young  ladies  from  a  distance.  There  are  beside  large 
and  ample  rooms  for  chapel  and  all  recitation  purposes. 
The  institution  is  now  in  a  highly-prosperous  condition, 
an  honor  to  the  city,  and  a  credit  to  the  Church.  It  is 
the  property,  and  under  the  control  of  the  Cincinnati 
conference,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  Worthington 
Female  Seminary,  it  is  the  oldest  institution  belonging 
to  the  Church  in  the  bounds  of  the  old  Ohio  conference. 
Those  who  may  wish  to  send  their  sons  and  daughters 
away  from  home,  to  have  them  educated,  may  send  them 
to  this  institution  with  the  assurance  that  their  train- 
ing will  be  thorough,  and  their  morals  and  religion  duly 
attended  to  by  the  President  and  his  estimable  lady. 


SPRINGFIELD  4dd 

JESUS   THE    FOUNDATION    OF    OUR    HOPE. 

Doctor  R.,  of  T.;  informed  me  that  he  was  called  to  see 
a  lovely  young  lady  on  her  death-bed.  She  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  nine 
years.  She  was  devotedly  pious,  and  "  adorned  the  doc- 
trine" of  God  her  Savior,  by  an  exemplary  life  of  self- 
denial.  She  was  taken  suddenly  ill  of  a  very  dangerous 
malady,  and  it  was  soon  apparent  to  herself  and  friends 
that  the  time  of  her  dissolution  was  drawing  near.  She 
gave  to  all  her  friends  and  family  connections  the  most 
satisfactory  assurance  that  she  was  "dressed  and  ready 
for  her  flight."  A  few  days  previous  to  her  death  she 
had  a  presentiment  that  before  her  " change"  would  come 
she  would  lose  the  power  of  speech ;  this,  for  a  time,  dis- 
tressed her  very  much,  and  also  affected  her  mother  to 
tears.  At  length  the  daughter  said,  "Mother,  do  not 
weep  for  me;  'all  is  well!  all  is  well!'  If  I  do  lose  the 
power  of  speech,  and  my  heavenly  Father  should  con- 
tinue my  reasoning  faculties,  I  want  you  to  bring  me  my 
small  Bible  that  I  love  so  well,  and  I  will  show  you  the 
foundation  of  my  hope  for  a  happy  immortality."  About 
three  days  after  this  she  was  suddenly  seized  with 
paralysis,  which  almost  instantly  deprived  her  of  the 
ability  to  articulate  a  word  so  as  to  be  understood.  She 
lay  in  this  condition  for  more  than  three  days,  apparently 
unconscious.  The  mother,  in  her  anguish,  forgot  the 
request  of  her  dying  child,  made  only  a  few  days  before 
her  tongue  ceased  to  speak  of  her  bright  hopes  beyond 
the  grave;  but  as  the  closing  scene  drew  very  near  her 
anxiety  to  know  the  state  of  her  daughter's  mind  revived 
on  a  sudden  both  the  request  and  promise.  "  Go  quick- 
ly," said  the  mother  to  one  of  the  children,  "and  bring 
Mary's  Bible."  It  was  brought  and  handed  to  the  moth- 
er, and  as  soon  as  Mary  saw  it  she  smiled  and  reached  out 
37 


4.34  FOOT- PR  I  NTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

her  hands,  now  chilled  with  the  waters  of  Jordan.  The 
.Bible  was  handed  to  her,  and  she  opened  it  on  the  third 
chapter  of  St.  John,  and  placing  her  finger  on  the  precious 
name  of  " Jesus,"  underscored  it  with  her  nail  and 
handed  it  to  her  weeping  mother.  Her  dying  mark 
remains  upon  the  word  to  this  day.  "Jesus"  was  the 
foundation  of  her  hope.  "  Other  foundation  could  no 
man  lay." 

"  Jesus,  the  vision  of  thy  face 

Hath  overpowering  charms ; 
Scarce  shall  I  feel  death's  cold  embrace 

If  Christ  be  in  my  arms. 
And  when  I  feel  my  heart-strings  break, 

How  sweet  the  moments  roll ; 
A  mortal  paleness  on  my  cheek, 

But  glory  in  my  soul !" 

With  the  name  of  Jesus  on  her  eye  and  his  glory 
in  her  heart,  that  sainted  one  passed  away  like  the  transit 
of  a  bright  and  beautiful  star  to  the  brighter  glories  of 
heaven. 

THE   PHILOSOPHIC   DOCTOR   EXCITED. 

While  attending  a  protracted  meeting  in  the  town  of 
C.,  an  amusing  incident  occurred.  Doctor  B.,  whose  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  who  him- 
self had  been  raised  a  Calvinist,  was  powerfully  convicted 
by  the  Spirit  of  God.  He  made  known  the  state  of  his 
mind  to  his  neighbors,  and  also  continued  to  attend  our 
meetings  very  regularly,  but  objected  to  the  "loud  cries" 
and  "excitement"  at  the  altar.  He  often  said  that  he 
was  fully  convinced  that  he  felt  his  need  of  religion  as 
deeply  as  any  one  of  them,  yet  nothing  could  induce  him 
to  go  there  for  prayers.  He  also  remarked,  and  wished 
me  to  notice  it,  that  should  he  at  last  conclude  to  go  for- 
ward, he  would  not  suffer  himself  to  become  excited  like 
many  who  were  crying  and  weeping  so  as  to  be  heard  all 
over   the    house.      The    meeting   continued    for    several 


SPRINGFIELD.  435 

weeks,  and  many  were  powerfully  converted;  but  the  poor 
Doctor  still  was  shut  up  in  the  prison-house  of  unbelief. 
He  sought  in  his  philosophic  way  for  a  long  time,  but 
could  find  no  relief.  At  last  he  concluded  to  approach 
our  altar  for  prayers.  I  shall  never  forget  that  scene. 
Before  he  reached  the  altar  he  was  in  tears,  and  greatly 
agitated  in  body.  He  prostrated  himself  at  the  altar  and 
cried  aloud  for  mercy.  He  soon  forgot  the  "excitement" 
of  which  he  had  spoken,  when  he  became  deeply  engaged 
for  the  salvation  of  his  own  soul.  He  remained  on  his 
knees  till  the  close  of  the  meeting,  apparently  uncon- 
scious of  every  thing  that  was  passing  around  him 
When  I  pronounced  the  benediction  the  congregation  all 
retired  from  the  house  before  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
speaking  with  my  friend  Doctor  B.  However,  I  soon 
learned,  on  going  out  into  the  street,  that  he  was  getting 
along  very  well.  The  next  morning,  when  he  arose  and 
wished  to  go  out,  he  could  not  find  his  hat.  Diligent 
search  was  made  for  it  all  over  the  house  and  in  the 
office,  but  no  trace  of  it  could  be  found.  At  length  his 
anxiety  for  the  safety  of  his  hat  suddenly  subsided  on 
the  reception  of  a  note  from  the  sexton  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  informing  him  that  it  was  safe  and 
sound,  and  sitting  just  where  he  left  it,  not  far  from  the 
altar.  The  Doctor  was  surprised,  and  at  last  laughed 
heartily,  and  remarked,  "Well,  I  think  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult for  me  now  to  convince  Mr.  Gaddis  and  my  Method- 
ist friends  that  I  was  free  from  excitement  last  night,  after 
returning  bareheaded,  without  knowing  that  I  had  left 
my  hat  in  the  church."  I  need  only  remark  that  God 
converted  the  Doctor,  and  he  never  afterward  was  heard 
to  say  a  word  about  "excitement"  at  the  altar  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  among  our  mourners. 

This  incident  has  revived  in  my  mind  another  little 
altar-scene  of  a  similar  character.     It  was  during  a  most 


136         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

extraordinary  revival  in  the  Ancient  Metropolis  of  this 

state.     A  Mr. was  awakened,  but  declared  that  going 

to  the  altar  would  do  him  no  good,  because  of  the  noise 
and  excitement.  I  often  tried  to  prevail  on  him  to  try 
it,  but  he  objected  for  some  days.  At  length  he  conclu- 
ded to  go  forward  and  make  the  experiment.  I  never 
witnessed  more  noise  and  loud  weeping  and  shouting 
than  we  had  that  night.     Do  you  ask  me  what  effect  it 

had  upon  Mr. ?     I  will  tell  you.     On  returning  home 

to  the  place  where  he  boarded  he  walked  into  the  parloi 
and  remarked  to  the  lady  of  the  house,  "Well,  Mrs.  A., 
you  had  a  good  meeting  to-night."  She  replied  affirma- 
tively, and  inquired,  "How  did  you  enjoy  the  meeting, 

Mr. V     He   smiled   and   said,   "0,  very  well,   very 

well,  indeed.  I  never  was  at  a  meeting  that  I  liked  half 
so  well  before.  There  was  not  half  as  much  excitement  as 
usual,  and  that  is  one  reason  why  I  enjoyed  it  so  well." 
Mrs.  A.  smiled,  and  enjoyed  it  very  much.  The  secret 
of  the  whole  matter  is  easily  explained.  He  was  at  the 
altar  and  praying  for  his  own  soul,  instead  of  watching 
the  conduct  of  others.  When  deeply  engaged  for  our- 
selves in  religious  matters,  we  will  be  quite  indifferent  to 
what  others  are  doing  around  us. 


CHAPTER   LXVI. 

PIQUA     STATION,     MIAMI     COUNTY. 

I  entered  upon  my  duties  at  Piqua  station  under  a 
painful  conviction  of  my  physical  inability.  Every  ser- 
mon that  I  attempted  to  preach  I  feared  might  lay  me 
aside;  and  even  when  I  commenced  a  discourse  I  had 
just  ground  to  fear  I  should  not  have  strength  to  finish 
it;  yet  God  was  my  help  in  time  of  need.     I  spit  blood 


PIQUA     STATION.  437 

daily  from  the  rupture  of  small  vessels  in  my  throat,  and 
yet  I  filled  all  my  regular  ministerial  engagements,  often- 
times preaching  three  times  a  week.  My  sufferings  were 
greatly  mitigated  by  the  kindness  of  the  people  of  my 
charge.  Their  united  prayers,  offered  in  private  and 
public,  in  my  behalf,  imparted  new  strength  to  my  soul, 
and  increased  my  bodily  vigor. 

At  our  first  quarterly  meeting,  on  the  25th  of  October, 
1851,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  poured  out,  and,  during 
the  following  week,  fourteen  were  added  to  the  Church. 
The  work  went  on  gradually;  some  were  converted  almost 
every  week.  Our  "  watch-night "  meeting  was  one  of 
unusual  interest.  I  had  the  assistance  of  the  local 
brethren,  who  rendered  me  valuable  aid  whenever  I 
needed  it.  About  half-past  eleven  o'clock  I  preached 
on  Jeremiah  vi7  4  :  "  "Woe  unto  us,  for  the  day  goeth 
away,  and  the  shadows  of  the  evening  are  stretched 
out."  While  urging  the  congregation  to  improve  the 
present  period,  or  "  day  of  salvation  " — for  if  suffered  to 
pass  it  could  not  be  recalled — a  deep  and  solemn  sense 
of  the  presence  of  God  rested  on  the  whole  assembly. 
"The  day  goeth  away,  and  the  shadows  of  the  evening 
are  stretched  out."     It  was  twelve  o'clock. 

"The  year  has  gone,  and  with  it 
Many  a  glorious  throng  of  happy  dreams. 
Its  mark  is  on  each  brow, 
Its  shadow  in  each  heart ; 
In  its  swift  course  it  waved  its  scepter 
O'er  the  beautiful,  and  they  are  not ! 
It  laid  its  pallid  hand  upon  the  strong  man, 
And  the  haughty  form  is  fallen, 
And  the  flashing  eye  is  dim  ! 
It  trod  the  halls  of  revelry, 
Where  thronged  the  blest  and  joyous, 
And  the  tearful  wail  of  stricken  ones  is  heard, 
Where  first  the  song  and  reckless  shout  resounded! 
It  passed  o'er  the  battle  plain, 
Where  sword,  and  spear,  and  shield 
Flashed  in  the  light  of  mid-day, 


438  FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

And  the  strength  of  serried  host  is  shivered; 
And  the  grass,  green  from  the  soul  of  carnage, 
>  above  the  crushed  and  molded  skeleton, 
And  faded  like  a  wre.ith  of  mist  at  eve; 
Yet,  ere  it  melted  in  the  viewless  air, 
It  heralded  its  millions  to  their  home, 
In  the  dim  laud  of  dreams !" 

An  awful  sense  of  the  majesty  of  God  awed  every  soul 
into  reverence.  We  then  bowed  in  silent  prayer  before 
the  Lord  our  God,  after  which  we  united  in  singing  the 
" covenant  hymn"  on  our  knees.  I  then  opened  the 
doors  of  the  Church,  and  seven  persons  presented  them- 
selves for  membership,  all  of  whom  are  still  valuable 
members  of  Christ's  "visible  body."  The  glory  of  God 
filled  the  temple,  and  many  of  his  saints  shouted  for  joy 
T  then  went  into  the  pulpit,  and  read  from  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  Joshua  the  following  appropriate  passages : 
"  And  the  people  said  unto  Joshua,  Nay,  but  we  will  serve 
the  Lord.  And  Joshua  said  unto  the  people,  Ye  are  wit- 
nesses against  yourselves  that  ye  have  chosen  }'ou  the 
Lord,  to  serve  him.  And  they  said,  We  are  witnesses. 
Now  therefore  put  away,  said  he,  the  strange  gods  which 
are  among  you,  and  incline  your  heart  unto  the  Lord  God 
of  Israel.  And  the  people  said  unto  Joshua,  The  Lord 
our  God  will  we  serve,  and  his  voice  will  we  obey.  iSc 
Joshua  made  a  covenant  with  the  people  that  day,  and 
set  them  a  statute  and  an  ordinance  in  Shechem.  And 
Joshua  wrote  these  words  on  the  book  of  the  law  of  God, 
and  took  a  great  stone  and  set  it  up  there  under  an  oak 
that  was  by  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord.  And  Joshua 
said  unto  all  the  people,  Behold,  this  stone  shall  be  a  wit 
ness  unto  us ;  for  it  hath  heard  all  the  words  of  the  Lord 
which  he  spake  unto  us.  It  shall  be,  therefore,  a  witness 
unto  you  lest  ye  deny  your  God.  So  Joshua  let  the  peo- 
ple depart,  every  man  unto  his  inheritance."  I  then 
pronounced  the  benediction,  and  we  all  retired  with  joy- 


PIQUA     STATION.  439 

M  hearts  to  our  homes.  Thus  ended  the  most  profitable 
and  interesting  "  watch-night"  meeting  that  I  ever  held. 
It  was  followed  by  a  glorious  revival  that  lasted  till  some 
time  in  March. 

During  this  season  of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord,  we  were  called  to  mourn  and  weep  for  departed 
worth.  The  young  and  beautiful,  the  middle-aged,  and 
those  laden  with  the  weight  of  years,  were  suddenly  cut 
off  from  our  congregation.  These  repeated  strokes  were 
sanctified  in  the  progress  of  holiness,  and  the  awakening 
of  the  thoughtless.  Among  the  deceased  were  some 
greatly  beloved  by  the  Church  for  their  many  Christian 
virtues — Mrs.  Hannah  Garnsey,  an  aged  disciple;  Miss 
Sarah  Jane  Keyt,  an  amiable  young  lady;  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Mitchell,  and  brother  TYillson  TVidney,  brother-in-law  of 
Rev.  S.  Maclay,  our  first  missionary  to  China.  Brother 
"Widney  was  a  man  of  great  moral  worth,  and  one  of  our 
most  efficient  stewards  at  Piqua.  But  "  these  all  died  in 
faith/'  and  are  now  shining  among  the  glorified.  Among 
the  number  of  those  who  were  converted  in  that  revival 
were  two  excellent  young  men,  both  of  whom  have  since 
been  licensed  to  preach,  and  one  of  them  is  now  a  trav- 
eling preacher. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  my  health  was  very 
feeble,  and  I  suffered  much  from  my  throat,  which  con- 
tinued to  grow  worse  by  speaking.  Over  one  hundred 
were  added  to  the  Church  as  the  fruit  of  my  first  year's 
ministry  at  Piqua.  The  congregations  were  large  during 
the  summer  season.  I  often  remarked,  in  the  pulpit, 
toward  the  close  of  the  year,  that  the  "way  of  the  Lord" 
was  preparing  for  a  glorious  manifestation  of  saving 
power,  and  I  exhorted  the  people  to  expect  it,  and  pray 
for  it  every  day.  I  also  remarked  frequently,  that, 
whether  I  was  returned  to  the  station  or  not,  I  fully 
believed  that  God  would  send  such  a  revival  among  them 


440  TOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

as  had  never  been  witnessed  in  that  city.  This  was  my 
faith,  and  in  this  confidence  I  continued  strong  unto  the 
end  of  the  year,  "giving  glory  to  God."  The  year 
closed  with  a  full  tide  of  prosperity.  Our  missionary 
collection  was  more  than  fifty  per  cent,  in  advance  of 
any  previous  year.  The  Sabbath  school  was  also  in  a 
highly-prosperous  state,  and  numbered  ox qv  four  hundred. 
I  think  the  Piqua  school  is  the  second  one  in  America 
that  is  favored  with  a  "correspondence"  from  our  iirst 
missionary  to  China,  Rev.  S.  3Iaclay.  This  should  in- 
spire our  young  friends  in  Piqua  to  contribute  largely  to 
the  missionary  cause.  The  "place  being  too  strait  for 
us,"  the  trustees  procured  a  lot  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  city,  with  a  view  to  the  organization  of  a  second 
charge  as  soon  as  practicable. 

At  the  session  of  the  next  conference,  which  was  held 
in  Xenia,  I  was  returned  to  the  station  with  Rev.  W.  J. 
Thurber  as  assistant  preacher.  My  health  during  the 
conference  at  Xenia  improved  slowly,  and  I  met  the  en- 
emy again  on  the  same  battle  field,  resolved  to  "  conquer 
or  die."  I  was  really  anxious  to  return  to  Piqua,  because 
I  firmly  believed  "God  would  fight  for  us."  "All  things 
are  possible  to  him  that  believeth." 


CHAPTER   LXVII. 

"NEVER     GO     AWAY     WITHOUT     PRAYER." 

Tins  was  the  remark  of  a  dear  child  of  God  to  me,  as 
she  lay  upon  her  dying  bed.  I  formed  her  acquaintance 
soon  after  my  connection  with  the  Piqua  station.  From 
her  early  childhood  she  evinced  a  serious  turn  of  mind. 
Her  youthful  days  were  marked  by  the  best  of  all  dis- 
tinctions, the  entire  consecration  of  herself  to  God.     At 


NEVER    GO    AWAY    WITHOUT    PRAYER.       441 

ten  she  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
in  her  sixteenth  year  was  found  walking  closely  with 
God.  For  a  long  time  before  her  death  she  had  a  strong 
presentiment  that  her  stay  here  would  not  be  long.  This 
impression  was  sanctified  to  her  good,  and  she  gradually 
and  visibly  ripened  for  a  better  world.  Her  trials  and 
recent  bereavements  were  also  graciously  sanctified  to  her 
good.  A  father,  whom  she  tenderly  loved,  and  her  af- 
fectionate husband,  both  had  lately  died  in  California. 
These  repeated  strokes  weakened  her  hold  on  earthly 
objects,  and  made  her  often  exclaim,  "  I  would  not  live 
always  I" 

In  the  year  1849  she  sought  and  found  full  redemption 
in  the  blood  of  Christ.  From  that  hour  a  marked  change 
was  visible  in  her  daily  walk  and  conversation.  The  con- 
secration was  entire,  and  her  progress  in  holiness  steady. 
The  remainder  of  her  life  was  devoted  to  the  service  of 
her  heavenly  Father.  She  went  on  her  way  a  u  bright 
shining  light."  But  we  are  called  to  look  upon  her  at 
the  close  of  her  pilgrimage.  The  typhoid  pneumonia 
was  prevailing  in  the  town  and  vicinity,  and  her  young- 
est sister  fell  a  victim  to  the  disease,  after  a  brief  ill- 
ness of  ten  days.  Other  members  of  the  household 
were  taken  ill,  but- recovered.  During  all  this  time,  the 
beloved  sister  of  whom  I  now  write,  walked  softly  by 
day  and  night,  in  the  chamber  of  sickness,  from  one 
couch  to  another,  like  some  kind  ministering  angel  of 
mercy.  Not  a  word  of  murmur  was  ever  heard  to  fall 
from  her  lips,  although  she  seemed  to  feel  the  death  of 
her  sister  most  keenly.  At  length,  wearied  and  broken 
down  by  long  and  painful  watching,  and  exposed  to  in- 
fected atmosphere,  she  fell  a  victim  to  the  same  disease. 
At  each  successive  visit  I  found  her  gradually  growing 
worse ;  but  "  Jesus  was  precious  to  her  soul."  On 
Thursday  evening   she  was  very  ill,  and    made  the  re- 


412  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

mark  above  quoted,  "Never  go  away  without  prayer." 
0,  may  I  always  remember  this  when  visiting  the  sick 
and  dying !  Ministers  of  Jesus,  ponder  it  well,  and  0, 
never,  "  never  go  away  without  prayer  I" 

That  same  evening  she  was  seized  with  an  alarming 
nervous  depression  and  sudden  determination  of  the  dis- 
ease to  her  brain.  In  the  night  I  was  aroused  from  my 
slumbers,  and  hastily  summoned  to  her  sick-room.  The 
scene  in  that  dying  chamber  was  one  of  moral  grandeur. 
It  was  the  "audience-chamber  of  Deity."  Her  phys- 
ical anguish,  at  times,  was  very  great;  pain  was  legibly 
written  on  every  lineament  of  her  face,  and  such  was  the 
violence  of  her  disease  that  her  mind  did  not,  at  all 
times,  maintain  its  balance;  yet,  amid  her  wildest  rav- 
ings, her  heart  seemed  to  point  unerringly  to  the  Savior, 
and  her  countenance  was  radiant  with  immortal  hope. 
All  her  lucid  moments  were  filled  up  with  fervent  prayer 
and  expressions  of  sweet  resignation  to  the  Divine  will. 
The  short  and  expressive  prayer  of  the  Syrophenician 
woman  she  repeated  most  frequently,  "  Lord,  help  me ! 
Lord,  help  me  !  Lord,  help  me  just  now  !  0,  the  power 
of  faith !  Come,  dear  Jesus,  and  come  quickly !  Thy 
will  be  done.  It  must  be  done  !  It  shall  be  done!  Not 
mine,  but  thine,  dear  Savior  !" 

On  Sabbath  she  said  to  me,  "Why  do  you  not  all  give 
me  up,  and  let  me  go  ?  I  have  no  desire  to  live."  On 
Sabbath  night  she  felt  that  her  work  was  done,  and  she 
would  often  exclaim,  in  a  clear  voice,  "Dear  Savior,  come  ! 
The  power  of  faith!  I  am  nothing!  Glorify  thyself! 
Dear  Savior,  glorify  thyself!  Lord  God  of  hosts,  God 
of  Jacob,  come !  The  Lord  can  save  me !  My  Savior, 
come  now  I"  Her  disease  continued  to  rage  till  her  frail 
bark  was  completely  dismantled ;  but  she  was  drawing 
near  the  harbor;  the  winds  were  hushed  to  rest,  and  she 
was  "gliding  sweetly"  over  a  calm  and  quiet  sea.     On 


"not    yet,    sir"  443 

her  " homeward  bound"  voyage,  when  in  sight  of  the 
" highlands"  of  immortality,  she  pointed  heavenward, 
and  exclaimed  aloud,  "  The  Lord  God  Omnipotent  reign- 
eth  !  Now  glorify  thyself!  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  and  come 
quickly!     Amen  and  amen." 

A  short  time  before  her  joyful  exit,  she  remarked  to 
me,  "You  must  pray  again;  though  I  am  too  weak  to  fol- 
low you  in  my  mind,  yet  I  can  listen."  0,  it  seemed  to 
be  the  medicine  of  her  soul,  prayer  and  praise  !  As  the 
earthly  tabernacle  was  gradually  dissolving,  and  the  cold 
waves  of  Jordan  dashing  about  her  pilgrim  feet,  she  lifted 
up  her  voice,  and  exclaimed,  "  0,  the  power  of  faith  ! 
Precious  Jesus  !  Precious  Jesus  !  Precious  Jesus  !  He 
can  save  me  I"  And  at  last,  with  slow  and  measured  tread, 
she  went  down  into  the  chilly  waters  of  the  death  stream, 
proclaiming,  at  each  successive  tread,  till  the  power  of 
articulation  failed,  "Firm,  firm,  firm  in  the  Lord!" 


CHAPTER    LXVIII. 

"NOT   yet,    sir." 

This  was  the  reply  of  Mr.  M.,  Esq.,  to  me  on  his 
dying  bed  when  I  asked  him  if  he  did  not  desire 
me  to  pray  for  him  before  I  left  his  room.  It  was 
the  first  time  that  I  had  ever  seen  him.  I  had  often 
heard  it  remarked  that  Mr.  J.  M.,  Esq.,  was  an  in- 
fidel, and  at  times  very  profane,  and  that  during  the 
early  part  of  his  last  sickness  he  tried  to  banish  all 
serious  thoughts  from  his  mind.  But  when  it  was 
announced  that  he  must  die,  a  deep  interest  was  man- 
ifested among  his  religious  friends  for  the  salvation 
of  his  soul.  His  open  hostility  to  religion  was  so  well 
known  that  no  one  felt  willing  to  approach  him  on  that 


444  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

important  subject.  An  intimate  friend  of  his,  and  also 
a  member  of  the  bar,  requested  me  several  times  to  pay 
him  a  visit  and  assured  me  of  a  kind  reception.  I  "was 
just  as  often  warned  by  others  to  stay  away,  as  I  would 
be  sure  to  get  my  feelings  wounded  if  I  should  intro- 
duce in  his  presence  the  subject  of  religion.  After  much 
prayerful  deliberation  I  finally  concluded  to  go.  My 
name  was  announced  at  the  door,  and  I  was  most  cor- 
dially received.  The  subject  of  religion  was  unexpect- 
edly introduced  by  himself,  and  with  great  frankness 
he  related  to  me  the  whole  experience  of  his  past  life. 
"My  wife,"  said  Mr.  M.,  "is  a  member  of  your 
Church,  or  at  least  she  was  so  when  we  were  married, 
and  if  I  am  not  mistaken  she  has  now  her  certificate  in 
the  drawer  of  her  own  bureau.  I  suppose,  Mr.  Gaddis, 
that  you  have  been  told  that  I  am  an  infidel?"  I  re- 
plied, "Yes,  sir,  I  have  often  heard  such  a  statement." 
"Well,"  continued  he,  "'I  am  glad  that  you  have  come 
to  see  me;  I  will  now  reveal  to  you,  as  a  stranger,  what 
I  have  always  concealed  from  my  acquaintances  in  this 
city.  About  twelve  months  previous  to  my  marriage, 
while  attending  a  protracted  meeting  held  by  your  de- 
nomination in  the  neighborhood  of  my  father's,  I  was 
deeply  convicted  of  my  sinful  state  and  went  forward  to 
the  altar  several  times  for  prayer.  However,  during  the 
progress  of  the  meeting  a  young  man  with  whom  I  had 
quarreled  came  forward  also  to  the  altar,  and  kneeled 
down  by  my  side.  I  was  powerfully  tempted  by  the 
devil.  At  last  I  yielded;  I  arose  from  my  knees  and 
took  a  seat  in  the  congregation.  I  then  thought  I  would 
continue  to  seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul  in  secret,  but 
the  enemy  took  advantage  of  the  enmity  existing  be- 
tween myself  and  this  young  man  to  prevent  me  from 
uniting  with  the  Church.  I  then  promised  that  I  would 
forsake  all  my  former  wicked  practices  and  lead  a  strictly- 


"not  yet,   sir."  445 

moral  life.  But  my  associations  were  such  that  i  soon 
found  this  course  impracticable.  I  then  determined  to 
marry,  and  hoped  I  would  find  fewer  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  becoming  a  good  man.  But  in  this  I  was  dis- 
appointed also  j  I  was  poor  and  had  to  live  in  rather  an 
obscure  settlement.  My  wife  did  not  unite  with  the 
Church,  and  we  first  attended  the  preaching  of  one  de- 
nomination and  then  another  till  I  lost  all  desire  to  be 
a  good  man.  I  have  not,  since  I  came  here,  attended 
any  place  of  worship.  But  I  can  assure  you,  Mr.  G-ad- 
dis,  that  I  am  a  firm  believer  in  the  Holy  Bible.'' 

I  was  agreeably  disappointed  in  finding  him  so  ready 
to  converse  upon  a  subject  for  which  I  was  told  he  had 
always  manifested  such  an  aversion  while  in  health.  I 
talked  with  him  very  freely  for  more  than  two  hours. 
Just  before  my  departure  I  asked  the  privilege  of  pray- 
ing :  his  emphatic  reply  stands  at  the  head  of  this  chap- 
ter. He  requested  me  to  call  soon  again.  I  promised 
to  do  so.  In  the  course  of  a  few  days  I  called  in  to 
see  how  he  was  getting  along.  I  found  him  much  worse; 
I  was  convinced  that  he  could  not  survive  long.  After 
the  usual  salutations  he  remarked,  "I  am  very  glad  that 
you  have  come  to  see  me  again,  for  several  reasons. 
Since  you  were  here  some  of  my  neighbors  have  made 
a  number  of  assertions  that  has  caused  me  great  afflic- 
tion of  mind.  Some  have  reported  one  thing  and  some 
another."  On  my  asking  what  they  were,  he  said, 
"They  have  reported  that  I  insulted  you,  that  I  ordered 
you  out  of  my  house  when  you  proposed  to  pray,  etc. 
Now,  sir,  I  am  glad  you  are  here.  Did  I  not  treat  you 
kindly  and  gentlemanly?  did  I  say  any  thing  to  wound 
your  feelings?  If  I  did  I  was  not  conscious  of  it.  I 
can  assure  you  nothing  was  farther  from  my  mind  and 
heart  than  what  my  neighbors  have  reported."  I  told 
him  to  rest  easy  about  that  matter,  I  could  easily  Bet 


446  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

the  public  right;  and  had  not  heard  any  one  even  allude 
to  the  things  of  which  he  spoke.  This  seemed  to  give 
him  immediate  relief  in  mind.  I  again  conversed  freely 
with  him,  but  was  not  permitted  to  pray,  although  treated 
with  much  kindness.  On  getting  up  to  leave  him  he 
reached  out  his  almost  skeleton  hand  and  pressed  me  to 
return  soon  again.  I  promised  to  do  so.  He  declined 
rapidly,  and  in  a  few  days  died  suddenly.  On  my  enter- 
ing the  house  a  few  days  afterward  his  wife  met  me  at 
the  door,  and  as  I  walked  through  the  parlor  she  said, 
with  a  look  and  stern  manner  that  I  shall  never  forget, 
"Mr.  Gaddis,  don't  you  dare  to  tell  my  husband  that  he 
is  not  prepared  to  die.  I  know  Judson  better  than  you, 
I  know  he  is  a  good  man."  I  replied,  "It  may  be  all 
true  in  regard  to  his  being  a  good  man  and  a  kind 
husband,  yet,  Mrs.  M.,  your  'good  husband'  has  no 
religion.  He  does  not  even  profess  to  have  any.  I  can 
assure  you,  Mrs.  M.,  that  nothing  will  deter  me  from  a 
faithful  discharge  of  my  duty  so  long  as  your  husband 
desires  my  counsel  and  spiritual  instructions."  Before 
my  departure  that  day  Mr.  M.  wept,  and  said,  "0,  my 
poor  wife !  0,  my  poor  wife !  what  will  become  of  her  ? 
I  could  die  with  less  regret  if  she  did  not  behave  so 
strangely."  Alas  for  her!  she  had  restrained  prayer 
and  forgotten  the  God  of  her  youth.  "Her  own  back- 
slidings  were  reproving  her,"  and  she  was  emphatically 
"  filled  with  her  own  ways."  The  Spirit  had  ceased  tc 
strive,  and  she  was  drifting  down  the  current  to  the  fatal 
whirlpool  of  destruction.  I  left  them  that  day  with  a  sad 
heart.  It  was  not  long  after  this  when,  late  at  night, 
a  messenger  came  in  haste  to  inform  me  that  Mr.  M. 
was  dying,  and  that  he  wanted  me  to  pray  for  him.  I 
hastened  to  his  dying  chamber.  On  approaching  his 
bed  I  saw  his  days  were  numbered,  and  that  soon  he 
would  experience  what  it  is  to  be  a  disembodied  spirit. 


MY    LAST    CHARGE.  447 

I  asked  hini  if  lie  wanted  me  to  pray  now.  "0,  yes!" 
said  the  dying  man,  "you  may  pray  now.  0,  I  feel  I 
need  it !"  I  took  his  right  hand  in  my  own  and  kneeled 
down  to  pray  for  him  as  well  as  I  could.  I  had  not 
prayed  long  before  I  thought  he  ceased  to  breathe.  I 
opened  my  eyes,  and  lo !  his  spirit  had  fled  before  the 
prayer  was  finished.  I  ceased  to  pray  for  him,  but 
offered  a  short  prayer  for  his  poor  wife  and  little  daugh- 
ter. I  learned  from  a  colored  man,  who  attended  him 
during  the  last  days  of  his  sickness,  that  when  he  found 
that  there  was  no  hope  of  his  recovery  he  prayed  for 
him  himself  frequently. 

0  how  many  in  the  early  part  of  a  fatal  sickness  say 
to  the.  minister  or  in  their  heart,  "  JSot  yet,  not  yet, 
sir!"  But,  alas  !  when  death  is  grappling  for  their  heart- 
strings, and  the  realities  of  the  eternal  world  are  ready 
to  burst  upon  their  affrighted  souls,  they  begin  to  pray 
often  when  it  is  too  late.  Thus  it  was  with  Mr.  M.  0, 
how  many  have  said  "  not  yet "  when  God  calls  them  to 
repent  and  believe  the  Gospel  now!  Poor  sinner,  " boast 
not  thyself  of  to-morrow." 


CHAPTER   LXIX. 

MY    LAST    CHARGE  —  PIQL A    STATION,    SECOND 

YEAR,    1852. 

My  second  year  in  Piqua  opened  under  favorable  aus- 
pices. The  congregations  were  large  and  deeply  atten- 
tive. At  Green-street,  and  at  the  South  District  School, 
the  new  place  of  worship,  the  house  was  generally 
crowded.  The  new  church  building  was  immediately 
put  under  contract,  and  all  were  much  encouraged  to 
look  for  a  season   of   extraordinary   revival.     Owing  to 


448         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

circumstances  beyond  our  control,  the  faith  of  the 
Church,  at  one  time,  wavered.  Some,  who  were  not 
easily  discouraged  heretofore,  had  a  "sore  trial  of  their 
faith"  in  regard  to  our  hopes  of  a  great  outpouring  of 
the  Holy  Spirit;  but  my  heart  had  seized  its  object 
with  such  an  intensity  of  desire,  that  its  grasp  was  as 
strong  as  death.  I  looked  not  at  the  "waves,"  but,  by 
faith,  to  my  Savior.  I  remembered  well  "  the  years  of 
the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High,"  and  how  God,  through 
my  feeble  instrumentality,  had  wrought  wonders  among 
the  people  in  other  days.  Unbelief  I  knew  was  iceakness. 
for  then  we  are  left  alone ;  but  faith  is  omnipotent,  be- 
cause it  is  Ood  and  man  together.  Blessed  be  God !  such 
a,  faith  was  imparted  to  me  on  that  trying  occasion.  3Iy 
inmost  soul  cried  out,  "Who  art  thou,  0  great  mount- 
ain ?  before  Zerubbabel  thou  shalt  become  a  plain." 
The  faith  that  demands  for  itself  a  "right  of  way"  to 
"  rebuild  the  walls "  of  Zion,  and  repair  all  the 
"breaches"  thereof,  will  always  prevail  with  God  and 
man. 

In  the  latter  part  of  December  I  was  taken  suddenly 
ill  with  violent  palpitation  of  heart.  I  was  dangerously 
sick  for  more  than  forty-eight  hours.  I  had  often  been 
attacked  in  the  same  way  before,  but  I  never  had  suf- 
fered so  long  without  relief,  or  even  a  mitigation  of  my 
disease;  but  the  "good  hand  of  my  God  was  upon  me." 
That  affliction  was  finally  made  a  great  blessing  to  my 
soul ;  I  came  out  of  it  very  weak  in  body,  but  greatly  re- 
freshed in  spirit.  A  few  moments  before  I  was  relieved, 
while  dozing  upon  my  bed,  I  fancied  that  I  was  traveling 
over  a  most  beautiful  and  fertile  plain,  with  the  rapidity 
of  the  wind.  I  had  not  proceeded  far,  however,  till  I 
descried,  in  the  distance,  on  my  left,  an  overwhelming 
land-flood,  coming  down  over  the  green  valley.  Its  dark, 
turbid  waters  rolled  mountains  high,  submerging  every 


MY     LAST     CHARGE.  449 

thing  in  its  course.  At  the  same  moment  I  discovered  a 
celestial  guide  on  my  right,  who  urged  me  forward  with 
increased  velocity.  We  soon  came  up  to  where  the  over- 
flowing waters  had  passed  across  the  plain.  I  was  con- 
ducted over  the  channel  of  the  river  "  dry  shod."  The 
waters  were  not  only  assuaged,  but  the  land  was  dry  upon 
which  I  made  my  foot-prints.  In  a  moment  we  resumed 
our  journey  again,  and  traveled  on  most  delightfully.  It 
was  not  long,  however,  till  we  came  in  sight  of  the  same 
river;  but  0,  how  changed  the  scene  before  me  !  It  was 
deep,  and  wide,  and  full;  its  waters  were  as  clear  as 
crystal.  I  looked  into  the  limpid  stream  with  feelings  of 
inexpressible  delight.  As  I  stood  upon  its  banks  my  ce- 
lestial guide  addressed  me  as  follows : 

"Thousands  have  crossed  this  stream  just  here,  deep 
and  wide  as  it  appears,  in  perfect  safety;  but  I  do  not 
require  even  this  of  you  at  the  present  time.  Come 
with  me,  and  let  us  travel  along  the  bank  up  the  river 
a  short  distance."  I  cheerfully  complied,  and  we  went 
rapidly  forward.  Imagine  my  surprise  on  being  soon 
conducted  down  into  the  water,  where  it  was  not  more 
than  ankle  deep,  and  narrowed  down  into  an  inconsidera- 
ble brook,  over  which  I  passed  in  a  moment.  I  was 
aroused  from  this  imaginary  journey  by  the  most  de- 
lightful sensations  that  I  ever  experienced.  I  was  soon 
very  happy,  and  felt  that  my  present  "  sickness  was  not 
unto  death."  I  remarked  to  my  wife,  that  I  believed  I 
would  soon  get  better ;  that  God  had  some  work  for  me 
yet  to  do  in  Piqua.  It  was  not  long  till  my  alarming 
symptoms  all  subsided,  and  I  fell  into  a  refreshing  slum- 
ber. On  awaking,  I  felt  like  saying,  "Bless  the  Lord, 
0,  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits ;  who  forgiv- 
eth  all  thine  iniquities,  and  healeth  all  thy  diseases  • 
who  crowneth  thy  life  with  loving-kindness  and  tender 
mercy !     Amen." 


450  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

I  have  thanked  God  a  thousand  times  for  that  unex- 
pected affliction,  and  the  circumstances  attending  mj 
deliverance  out  of  it.  I  have  always  thought  of  it  since, 
in  connection  with  these  beautiful  words  in  Job  :  "  For 
then  thou  shalt  lift  up  thy  face  without  spot ;  yea,  thou 
shalt  be  steadfast,  and  shalt  not  fear;  because  thou 
shalt  forget  thy  misery,  and  remember  it  as  the  waters 
that  pass  away;  and  thine  age  shall  be  clearer  than  the 
noonday;  thou  shalt  shine  forth,  thou  shalt  be  as  the 
morning."  I  could  rejoice  and  sing  in  my  heart  all  day 
long, 

"  Lord,  remember  me  for  good, 

Passing  through  this  mortal  vale ; 
Show  me  the  atoning  blood 

"When  my  strength  and  spirit  fails; 
Give  my  gasping  soul  to  see 

Jesus  crucified  for  me." 

On  Christmas  day  a  visiting  brother  preached  for  me 
at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  and  I  gave  out  another  appoint- 
nxent  for  him  at  night.  At  the  ringing  of  the  second 
bell,  I  entered  the  church  at  the  side  door  next  to  the 
parsonage.  I  found  a  large  congregation  in  attendance, 
but  the  brother  appointed  to  preach  had  not  yet  come 
in.  I  arose,  and  told  the  congregation  that,  as  the  time 
for  the  commencement  of  the  service  had  arrived,  I 
should  sing  and  pray,  and  I  had  no  doubt,  by  the  time 
we  had  passed  though  the  introductory  exercises,  brother 

would   be   in  to  take  my  place.     After  prayer  the 

congregation  engaged  in  singing  another  hymn,  and,  at 
its  close,  I  concluded  the  brother  would  disappoint  us. 
For  a  time  I  was  covered  all  over  with  confusion,  and 
knew  not  what  to  do.  I  was  seated  in  the  altar,  before 
the  table.  I  closed  my  eyes,  and  cried  inwardly,  "Lord, 
what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?"  I  felt,  in  a  moment, 
that  it  was  my  duty  to  preach ;  and  I  then  said  to  the 
congregation,  "  Please  sing  another  hymn,  and  if  I  can 


MY     LAST     CHARGE.  451 

think  of  a  text  suitable  for  the  occasion  I  will  try  and 
supply  the  brother's  lack  of  service  as  well  as  I  can."  1 
concluded  to  speak  from  these  words :  "  Wilt  thou  not 
revive  us  again,  that  thy  people  may  rejoice  in  thee? 
Show  us  thy  mercy,  0  Lord,  and  grant  us  thy  salvation. 
I  will  hear  what  God  the  Lord  will  speak  :  for  he  will 
speak  peace  unto  his  people  and  to  his  saints;  but  let 
them  not  turn  again  to  folly.  Surely  his'  salvation  is 
nigh  them  that  fear  him ;  that  glory  may  dwell  in  our 
land."     Psalm  lxxxv,  6,  7,  8,  9.     I  remarked  as  follows : 

1.  We  have  here  the  language  of  deep  solicitude  and 
earnest,  longing  desire.     "  Wilt  thou  not  revive  us  again  f", 

2.  Of  contrition  and  deep  penitence.  "  Show  us  thy 
mercy."     Mercy  is  our  plea,  etc. 

3.  Of  dependence.  "Wilt  not  thou?.'  etc.;  "Show 
us  thy  mercy,  0  Lord;"  "Grant  us  thy  salvation."  If 
we  are  revived  God  must  do  it :  "Without  me  ye  can  do 
nothing." 

4.  Of  hope  and  strong  confidence.  Wilt  thou  not? 
Surely  thou  wilt  do  it  now.  "  His  salvation  is  nigh  them 
that  fear  him." 

5.  It  is  also  the  language  of  expectancy.  "  I  will 
hear  what  God  the  Lord  will  speak :  for  he  will  speak 
peace  unto  his  people  and  to  his  saints." 

"Wilt  thou  not  revive  us  again?" 

1.  That  sinners  may  be  awakened. 

2.  That  backsliders  may  be  reclaimed. 

3.  The  lukewarm  stirred  up. 

4.  That  "glory  may  dwell  in  our  land." 

5.  That    the    laborers    may  be   refreshed,    "that    thy 

people  may  rejoice  in  thee;"  "Give  a  little  reviving  in 

our  bondage." 

"  As  welcome  as  the  water  spring 
Is  to  a  barren  place, 
Jesus,  descend  on  us,  and  bring 
Thy  sweet,  refreshing  grace." 


•£52         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

Caution. — u  For  the  Lord  will  speak  peace  unto  his 
peopie  and  to  his  saints;  but  let  them  not  turn  again  to 
My." 

"  Thy  spirit  then  will  speak, 

Through  lips  of  humble  clay, 
Till  hearts  of  adamant  shall  break, 
And  rebels  shall  obey." 

When  I  commenced  speaking  I  could  only  recall  to 
mind  one-half  of  tins  plan.  I  went  forward,  trusting  in 
God  for  light  and  timely  assistance.  I  said  nothing  to 
the  audience  about  my  want  of  preparation,  but  closed 
when  about  half-way  through  my  discourse.  The  con- 
gregation united  in  singing  a  familiar  hymn,  and  I  then 
called  on  a  good  old  " father  in  Israel"  to  pray.  During 
the  prayer  a  calm  and  sweet  serenity  filled  my  soul,  and 
my  mind  became  clear  and  collected;  and  before  brother 
D.  closed  his  fervent  prayer,  the  balance  of  my  sermon 
passed  before  my  mind  as  distinct  and  clear  as  a  pano- 
ramic view  on  canvas.  I  realized  in  a  moment  the  well- 
known  voice  of  my  Master  behind  me,  and  I  resolved  to 
do  his  bidding.  As  soon  as  the  prayer  closed  I  arose 
and  opened  the  Bible,  read  my  text  again,  and  com- 
menced my  sermon  at  the  point  where  I  had  left  off 
speaking.  The  congregation  were  amazed  at  the  novelty 
of  the  whole  procedure,  but  I  was  not  daunted  in  the 
least  degree.  The  word  of  the  Lord  was  like  Jire  shut  up 
in  my  bones.  "  I  had  an  unction  from  the  holy  One  f 
the  word  of  God  had  free  course,  and  was  glorified;  I 
was  enabled  to  speak  from  the  heart,  and  it  went  to  the 
hearts  of  the  people.  I  said,  "  Lord,  I  am  nothing  ! 
Now,  dear  Savior  'glorify  thyself!'" 

"  On  me,  on  all  some  gift  bestow, 
Some  blessing  now  impart ; 
The  seed  of  life  eternal  sow, 
In  every  loving  heart." 


MY     LAST    CHARGE.  453 

Our  faith,  was  at  this  moment  all-cow pio  ring,  and, 
"  with  open  face,  as  in  a  glass,  we  beheld  the  glory  of 
God  revealed  in  the  Gospel."  The  countenances  of 
God's  saints  were  radiant  with  joy.  I  closed  by  saying, 
"  God  is  in  the  city  I  Our  King  is  in  the  midst  of  us  to- 
night!  The  sacrifice  is  accepted;  his  salvation  is  nigh 
them  that  fear  him!  He  will  'show  us  his  mercy,  and 
'grant  us  his  favor  V  I  want  you  to  date  the  commence- 
ment of  the  'revival'  of  the  work  of  God  in  this  station 
from  this  very  hour."  To  this  there  was  an  audible  and 
hearty  response  from  many  a  joyful  heart.  "  Th j  way, 
0  God,  is  in  the  sanctuary!  My  heart  trusted  in  him, 
and  I  am  helped!  Therefore  my  heart  greatly  rejoiceth, 
and  with  my  song  I  will  praise  him  \"  * 

This  was  my  experience  on  that  memorable  night.  On 
my  return  home  these  words  were  deeply  impressed  on 
my  mind :  "  Who  shall  order  the  battle  ?  And  he  an- 
swered, Thou.  Therefore,  as  said  the  prophet  to  the 
king  of  Israel,  Go,  strengthen  thyself,  and  mark  and  see 
what  thou  doest."  I  said,  "Lord,  who  is  sufficient  for 
these  things  ?  Yet  not  my  will  but  thine  be  done.  I 
am  nothing  I     '  Glorify  thyself  V  " 

"  Thy  faithful  witness  will  I  be, 
'Tis  fixed,  lean  do  all  through  thee!" 

From  that  night  I  no  longer  doubted  that  the  "set  time 
to  favor  Zion  had  fully  come."  I  walked  softly  before 
Him,  and  realized  truly  that  "  the  secret  of  the  Lord  is 
with  them  that  fear  him,"  and  he  will  show  them  his 
"  salvation." 


454  FOOT-PRINTS     OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

CHAPTER   LXX. 

FUNERAL    OF    A    PIOUS    YOUNG    LADY. 

The  next  Sabbath  after  preaching  the  sermon  given 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  I  preached  the  funeral  sermon 
of  Miss  J.  C.  from  these  words,  "What  are  these  which 
are  arrayed  in  white  robes?  and  whence  came  they?'' 
Revelation  vii,  13.  Although  but  little  known  to  the 
world  she  was  "the  daughter  of  a  King."  She  was  an 
only  child,  and  dearly  beloved  by  her  widowed  mother. 
In  the  year  1850  she  came,  with  her  parents,  from  the 
state  o£  Virginia,  and  settled  in  Piqua.  They  had  a 
pleasant  home,  and  were  delighted  with  their  new  loca- 
tion. But  it  was  not  long  before  her  father  was  taken 
suddenly  ill  and  died.  For  a  time  the  earth  was  clad 
in  mourning,  and  the  rest  of  the  family  desired  to  re- 
turn to  their  native  land,  but  they  finally  concluded  to 
remain  in  the  Miami  Valley.  About  a  year  after  the 
death  of  the  father  Miss  J.  fell  into  a  decline.  Soon 
after  I  took  charge  of  the  station  she  was  confined  to 
her  room,  and  cut  off  entirely  from  participating  in  the 
public  means  of  grace.  But  the  consolations  of  religion 
were  not  small  with  her.  Her  piety  was  unquestionable, 
deep  and  uniform.  Her  peace  flowed  as  a  river,  clear 
and  full.  I  had  often  visited  her,  and  always  found  her 
cheerful,  patient,  and  resigned.  She  suffered  much,  and 
was  reduced  almost  to  a  skeleton.  My  last  interview 
with  her  was  deeply  interesting  and  affecting.  I  wili 
narrate  a  part  of  her  conversation. 

She  was  now  near  the  close  of  life,  and  at  this  time 
we  all  thought  her  dying.  She  smiled  and  said  to  me, 
"I  have  no  fear  of  death  now,  and  I  have  not  had  for 
some  time  past.     I  feel  no  pain,  but  just  as  if  I  was  fall- 


FUNERAL    OF    A    PIOUS    LADY.  455 

ing  into  a  sweet  sleep.  0  what  peace !  no  tongue  can 
describe  it!  God  has  been  very  good  to  me.  He  has 
granted  me  all  that  I  have  desired  of  him.  I  had  a 
very  kind  father;  I  always  desired  to  live  to  close  his 
eyes.  Well,  God  granted  me  that  privilege.  I  always 
thought  I  would  die  young,  and  I  desired  to  die  of  a 
lingering  disease.  This  God  has  granted  also.  It  is 
true  that  I  suffered  much ;  but,  I  thank  God,  I  never 
murmured.  Before  I  was  afflicted  I  went  astray;  I  was 
becoming  fond  of  the  world;  but,  I  bless  the  Lord,  this 
sick-bed  has  been  the  means  of  saving  my  soul.  /  am 
now  ready — waiting  patiently.  I  want  to  see  all  my 
friends  and  class-mates."  To  one  standing  near  her  bed 
she  said,  " Jesus  is  my  all-sufficient  Savior."  To  another 
on  her  right  hand,  "Farewell,  I  am  going  straight 
home."  To  sister  Hannah  Wood  she  remarked,  "  0  how 
often  have  you  and  I  talked  about  our  parents  in  heaven ! 
I  will  soon  see  my  dear  father,  and  meet  him  to  part  no 
more."  It  was  a  long  time  before  her  mother  could 
resign  her  fully  into  the  hands  of  her  heavenly  Father, 
or  become  reconciled  to  part  with  her  only  child.  But 
God  strengthened  her  for  the  trial  in  the  hour  of  need. 
This  was  a  source  of  great  comfort  to  her  daughter  when 
dying.  Looking  at  me  she  said,  "  I  am  glad  mother  has 
given  me  up.  It  was  a  great  struggle,  but  grace,  all-con- 
quering grace,  has  enabled  her  to  do  it.  I  now  commit 
my  dear  mother  to  the  care  of  my  brethren  and  sisters 
in  the  Church  at  Piqua."  I  then  inquired  if  she  de- 
sired to  give  any  directions  concerning  the  manner  of 
her  burial  and  funeral  ceremonies.  She  responded,  "I 
wish  the  funeral  services  to  be  held  in  the  church,  if  con- 
venient. I  prepared  all  my  burial-clothes  more  than 
two  months  since.  I  desire  to  be  buried  in  the  last 
dress  given  me  by  my  dear  father.  He  always  loved  to 
see  me  wear  it      I  wish  to  be  interred  near  him,  leaving 


456  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

room  for  my  mother  on  the  opposite  side."  On  seeing 
her  mother  weeping  she  said,  "When  I  see  mother 
weeping  I  can  not  weep,  when  I  remember  that  I  am 
going  to  dwell  with  Jesus,  and  be  where  my  dear  father 
is.  I  know  it  will  not  be  long  till  mother  will  follow 
me.  Why,  then,  should  I  weep?  When  I  think  of 
Jesus  and  what  he  has  done  for  me  I  have  no  fear.  0 
no,  perfect  love  casteth  out  all  fear."  She  then  sent 
the  following  message  by  me  to  the  members  of  her  own 
class :  u  Tell  my  dear  class-mates  I  love  them  all,  and  I 
hope  they  will  all  meet  me  in  heaven.  Tell  them,  0  tell 
them  my  last  breath  shall  be  spent  in  prayer  for  them, 
that  they  all  may  die  as  happy  and  peacefully  and  suffer 
as  .little  as  I  do."  To  her  young  lady  acquaintances  and 
friends  she  sent  also  the  following  message.  The  words 
show  with  what  composure  religion  can  invest  the  soul, 
and  how  on  the  verge  of  Jordan  the  song  of  triumph 
can  break  forth  from  the  Christian's  lips:  "Tell  them 
for  me,  I  hope  when  I  am  gone  they  will  live  a  more 
holy  and  consistent  life,  and  not  be  so  fond  of  this  vain 
and  gay  world.  I  know  they  will  not  take  offense  at 
this  advice,  as  it  comes  from  one  that  loves  them  most 
affectionately,  and  one  that  is  now  dying."  She  then 
asked  me  if  I  thought  she  was  dying;  I  told  her  she 
could  not  survive  long.  She  then  smiled  and  said,  "On 
yesterday  I  was  trying  to  sing, 

4  What's  this  that  steals,  that  steals  upon  my  frame? 

Is  it  death?  is  it  death? 
That  soon  will  quench,  will  quench  this  vital  flame? 
Is  it  death  ?  is  it  death  ? 
If  this  be  death,  I  soon  shall  be 
From  every  pain  and  sorrow  free ; 
I  shall  the  King  of  glory  see: 
All  is  tci.ll,  all  i«  ivtll.' 


0   I  wish   I   could    sing    it    now;    brother   Gaddis,   will 
you  not  sing  it  for  me?"     I  told  her  I  could  not.  but 


SECOND    QUARTERLY    MEETING.  457 

requested  some  young  ladies  to  do  it,  who  were  in  the 
room  at  the  time.  While  they  sung  this  touching  and 
beautiful  song,  the  glory  of  God  filled  the  dying  chamber, 
and 

*'  The  unrobing  spirit  cast 
Diviner  glories  to  the  last." 

Her  happy  death  and  the  funeral  services  which  took 
place  on  that  day  I  have  no  doubt  were  sanctified  to  the 
good  of  hundreds. 


CHAPTER    LXXI. 

WATCH-NIGHT     AND      SECOND      QUARTERLY 
MEETING. 

All  the  meetings  during  the  subsequent  week  were  of 
an  interesting  character.  We  held  a  watch-night  meet- 
ing, which  was  productive  of  lasting  good  to  many  souls. 
Immediately  on  the  ushering  in  of  the  new  year  I  opened 
the  doors  of  the  Church  for  the  reception  of  persons  on 
trial,  and  received  the  application  of  six  very  promising 
converts.  The  next  day,  at  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  our  second 
quarterly  meeting  commenced,  with  an  appropriate  and 
encouraging  sermon  by  our  beloved  presiding  elder,  Rev 
M.  Marlay,  who  had  preceded  me  in  this  station.  As  the 
evening  approached  I  felt  I  had  a  " message  from  God" 
;o  the  people  of  my  charge,  as  preparatory  to  the  "bat- 
tle." I  had  no  u  rest  in  spirit"  till  I  concluded  to  deliver 
it,  although  feeble  in  body.  I  never  felt  God  so  near,  or 
such  an  awful  weight  of  responsibility  resting  on  my  soul, 
as  I  did  that  night.  I  spoke  from  these  words:  " Al- 
ways abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  yo 
know  that  your  labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord."  1  Cor 
kv,  58.     I  pursued  the  following  practical  method : 

39 


458  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

I.  The  work  of  the  Lord.     "What  is  it  ? 

1.  To  believe  on  Jesus  Christ.  Then  said  certain 
Jews,  "  What  shall  we  do  that  we  might  work  the  works  of 
God?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Thit  U  tin 
work  of  God,  that  ye  believe  on  him  whom  he  hath  sent." 
John  vi,  29.  "  To  him  that  worketh  not,  but  lelkveth  on 
him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is  counted  for 
righteousness."  Romans  iv,  5.  How  plain  and  easy  the 
way  of  life  ! 

2.  To  cultivate  persona! piety.  Here  is  work  for  us  all. 
"  Grow  in  grace"  daily.  In  this  work  we  are  to  " abound 
more  and  more."  1  Thess.  iv.  "  Follow  peace  with  all 
men  and  holiness,"  etc. 

3.  To  labor  to  bring  others  to  Christ.  "And  when  the 
men  of  that  place  had  knowledge  of  him,  they  sent  out 
into  all  the  country  round  about,  and  brought  unto  him 
all  that  were  diseased;  and  besought  him  that  they  might 
only  touch  the  hem  of  his  garment:  and  as  many  as 
touched  were  made  perfectly  whole.''  Matt,  xiv,  35,  36. 
During  this  meeting  let  us  go  and  do  likewise.  All  may 
become  "  co-workers  with  God." 

II.  Reasons  why  we  should  "always  abound,"  etc 

1.  W^e  belong  to  God. 

2.  "We  have  been  purchased  by  Jesus  Christ. 

3.  It  is  the  surest  way  to  be  happy.  The  angels  do  his 
will,  and  are  happy.  " Abounding  in  the  work  of  God" 
here  will  make  earth  resemble  heaven. 

4.  We  live  in  a  peculiar  and  deeply-interesting  age. 
The  world  is  a  great  "battle-field" — the  armies  are  in 
motion — a  mighty  struggle  is  now  going  on  between  vice 
and  virtue — Christ  and  antichrist — light  and  darkness, 
etc.  Our  facilities  for  the  accomplishment  of  good  are  a 
thousand  fold  greater  than  in  the  days  of  our  fathers. 
"Say  not  there  are  yet  four  months,  and  then  cometh 
harvest.     Lift  up  your  eyes  and  look  upon  the  fields." 


SECOND  QUARTERLY  MEETING.     459 

f<  Why  stand  ye  here  all  the  day  idle  ?     Go  ye  also  into 
the  vineyard." 

"  See  on  the  mountain-top 
The  standard  of  your  God  ; 
In  Jesus'  name  I  lift  it  up, 

All  stained  v.ith  hallow'd  blood." 

5.  Much  of  the  time  for  labor  with  many  is  past 
already.  Alas  for  some  of  the  aged  who  hear  me  to- 
i/ight !  Their  sun  spreads  its  feeble  beams,  and  is  plung- 
ing down  the  horizon.  "The  day  is  far  spent."  You 
have  not  long  to  "  abound  in  this  work." 

"  The  lengthening  shadows  o'er  the  mead 
Proclaim  the  close  of  day." 

6.  Time  to  come  is  short  and  uncertain  with  us  all. 
"Whatsoever  thy  hand  fmdeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy 
might."  What  you  do  for  the  conversion  of  the  world, 
your  relatives  and  friends,  must  be  done  quickly.  In  the 
eloquent  language  of  a  New  Zealand  chief,  "Make  haste 
the  sun  is  fast  going  down,  for  whom  you  have  to  work." 

7.  The  "recompense  of  the  reward"  is  sure,  "foras- 
much as  ye  know  that  your  labor  is  not  in  vain."  The 
Gospel  sends  no  man  to  war  without  the  promise,  "  Lo,  I 
am  with  you,"  etc.     But  we  must  all  "labor  in  the  Lord." 

At  the  close  of  my  discourse  brother  Meharry  exhorted, 
and  a  number  came  forward  for  prayers.  The  love-feast 
in  the  morning  was  a  time  of  refreshing.  At  eleven 
o'clock  brother  Marlay  occupied  the  pulpit,  and  gave  us 
one  of  his  most  effective  sermons.  At  night  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Meharry  preached  a  most  appropriate,  eloquent,  and 
awakening  sermon  from,  "Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth 
to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might."  The  altar  was  filled  with 
penitents,  and  two  experienced  a  change  of  heart.  Up 
to  the  fifth  day  of  January,  twenty  persons  had  joined  on 
trial,  and  more  than  that  number  were  converted  to  God. 
On  Sunday,  the  ninth  of  January,  I  tried  to  preach  again 
from   these  words:  " I  will  sing  of  mercy."     Ps.  ci;  1 


460  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

At  the  close  of  the  labors  of  this  Sabbath  we  had  enrolled 
seventy-Jive.  During  the  next  week  Rev.  William  H. 
Lawder  came  to  our  help,  and  brother  Meharry  returned 
to  give  us  another  "  strong  pull."  Brother  Callender  also 
joined  our  " battle-cry"  on  Saturday  night.  The  next 
morning  we  held  another  love-feast.  It  was  a  time  of 
power  and  glory,  such  as  I  never  before  witnessed 
Twenty  joined,  and  more  than  a  score  u testified"  that 
God  had  pardoned  all  their  sins  during  the  past  week. 
At  the  close  of  this  day,  January  sixteenth,  one  hundred 
and  ninety  were  added  to  the  fold.  The  next  day  brother 
Meharry  was  violently  attacked  with  pneumonia,  and  con- 
tinued quite  ill  for  some  time,  but  brothers  Lawder  and 
Callender  still  remained  to  assist  us.  The  next  Sabbath, 
January  twenty-third,  I  preached  in  the  morning  on  the 
"  delay  of  conversion,"  and  my  colleague  preached  at 
night.  Sixty  mourners  pressed  to  the  altar  for  prayer, 
many  of  whom  were  soundly  converted  that  evening.  On 
Monday  night  I  preached  from  Isaiah  xlv,  19,  "I  said  not 
unto  the  seed  of  Jacob,  Seek  ye  me  in  vain;"  and 
on  Wednesday  I  preached  with  great  liberty  from,  "  Why 
should  the  work  cease?"  Neh.  vi,  3.  The  next  day  the 
work  spread  wider,  and  we  were  compelled  to  hold  two 
meetings  each  day.  Total  number  of  accessions  at  the 
close  of  this  week,  two  hundred  and  ninety.  The  next 
Sabbath  morning  I  preached  to  one  of  the  largest  congre- 
gations ever  assembled  in  Piqua.  The  work  increased  in 
w power"  every  day,  and  I  have  no  doubt  many  more 
found  peace  in  believing  than  the  number  that  joined  our 
Church.  People  flocked  in  from  every  point  of  the  com- 
pass, some  a  distance  of  ten  and  fifteen  miles,  and  many 
of  whom  returned  home  to  their  friends  to  "show  what 
great  things  the  Lord  had  done  for  them,"  and  how  he 
had  compassion  on  them.  The  work  now  took  hold  of  all 
classes — the  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor,  the  moralist 


REVIVAL    INCIDENTS.  461 

and  the  most  profligate.  At  night  our  large  church  was 
crowded  so  full  that  I  adopted  the  following  method  of 
calling  up  the  seekers  of  religion.  At  the  close  of  the 
sermon,  before  we  rose  up  to  sing,  while  the  congregation 
was  quietly  seated  and  the  aisles  unobstructed,  I  arranged 
the  altar.  I  had  a  number  of  the  front  seats  vacated,  and 
then  invited  the  mourners  to  approach  the  place  thus  pre- 
pared for  their  reception.  0,  how  it  thrilled  my  heart 
with  joy  to  see  them  coming  down  from  the  galleries  by 
scores  and  kneeling  at  God's  altar,  till  every  seat  would 
be  crowded  full !  At  times  upward  of  one  hundred  would 
approach  in  this  way.  I  would  then  invite  all  who  desired 
an  interest  in  the  prayers  of  the  people  of  God,  but  could 
not  reach  the  altar  because  of  the  "  thronged  multitude," 
to  stand  up  just  where  they  were,  and  let  all  see  that  they 
were  determined  also  to  be  "on  the  Lord's  side."  Very 
many  would  simultaneously  rise  to  their  feet.  We  would 
then  commence  the  prayer  meeting  for  all  who  were 
tl  seeking  Jesus."  Up  to  the  close  of  the  first  month  in 
1853,  the  total  number  added  to  our  Church  was  over 
three  hundred  precious  souls,  and  more  than  that  number 
had  found  peace  with  God. 


CHAPTER  LXXII. 

REVIVAL     INCIDENTS  —  A     LOVELY     SCENE. 

Many  deeply-interesting  and  thrilling  scenes  occurred 
during  the  progress  of  this  revival.  I  could  collect  ma- 
terials enough  for  a  small  volume,  that  would  be  read 
with  interest  by  the  lovers  of  the  Savior.  I  can  only 
find  room  in  my  "  Foot-Prints  "  for  a  few. 

A  Mr.  J.  M.,  who  had  lived  many  years  without  hope 
and  without  God  in  the  world,  attended  our  meeting,  in 


402         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

company  with  some  of  his  jolly  companions.  A  noble- 
hearted  woman  of  his  acquaintance  approached  him,  and 
invited  him  to  the  altar.  He  told  her  that,  if  spared  till 
the  next  evening,  he  would  cheerfully  comply  with  her 
request.  Faithful  to  his  promise,  he  was  present  at  an 
early  hour;  and  when  the  mourners  were  invited,  Mr.  M. 
was  soon  found  among  them  at  the  altar  of  prayer.  He 
was  soundly  converted,  and  joined  the  Church.  Many 
prophesied  that,  in  "time  of  temptation,  he  would  not 
endure;"  but  he  was  thoroughly  "  turned  into  another 
man,"  and  continued  steadfast  unto  the  end.  He  died 
of  consumption,  in  the  following  year,  in  the  full  assur- 
ance of  faith.     A  sinner  saved  by  grace  !     Halleluiah  ! 

A  lady,  in  speaking  of  the  happy  change  in  the  fam- 
ily circle  since  her  conversion,  remarked,  "Every  thing 
in  our  little  house  appears  singularly  changed — even  the 
fire  burns  more  brightly,  and  the  candle  gives  a  clearer 
light.  Truly,  my  brethren  and  sisters,  all  things  have  be- 
come new!" 

On  one  occasion  I  was  politely  requested  to  open  the 
doors  of  the  Church  before  the  sermon.  I  was  also  re- 
quested to  sing  the  following  beautiful  and  very  appro, 
priate  hymn,  found  on  the  479th  page  of  our  excellent 
hymn-book : 

"Let  worldly  minds  the  world  pursue ; 
It  has  no  charms  for  me : 
Once  I  admired  its  trifles  too, 
But  grace  hath  set  me  free. 

Its  pleasures  can  no  longer  please, 

Nor  happiness  afford : 
Far  from  my  heart  be  joys  like  these, 

Now  I  have  seen  the  Lord. 

As  by  the  light  of  opening  day 

The  stars  are  all  conceal'd, 
So  earthly  pleasures  fade  away, 

When  Jesus  is  reveal'd. 


REVIVAL    INCIDENTS.  463 

Creatures  no  more  divide  my  choice ; 

I  bid  them  all  depart : 
His  name,  his  love,  his  gracious  voice, 

Have  fixed  my  roving  heart." 

The  house  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  a 
deep  and  solemn  sense  of  the  presence  and  power  of 
God  rested  upon  the  congregation.  The  "  sighing  of 
the  prisoner"  was  heard  in  different  parts  of  the  assem- 
bly; the  ministers  of  the  sanctuary  were  at  their  post ; 
and  the  soldiers  of  Jesus  were  standing  in  their  "  places 
round  about  the  camp/'  fully  harnessed  for  the  "battle 
of  the  Lord." 

During  the  singing  of  this  hymn,  a  venerable  servant 
of  God  approached  the  altar,  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  a 
devotedly-pious  wife.  They  had  three  daughters,  the 
eldest  of  whom  was  married,  and  had  connected  herself 
with  the  people  of  God.  About  a  year  previous  I  had 
taken  the  youngest  daughter  into  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church;  but,  up  to  this  period,  the  second  daughter 
had  not  made  a  profession  of  religion.  During  the  re- 
vival she  had  fully  made  up  her  mind  to  consecrate 
herself,  soul  and  body,  a  living  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of 
her  God.  She  requested  her  dear  parents  and  sister  to 
accompany  her  to  the  altar.  It  was  a  lovely  sight — one 
that  time  will  never  efface  from  my  memory.  At  the 
close  of  the  hymn  I  went  down  into  the  altar,  to  take 
her  hand,  in  token  of  her  desire  to  unite  with  the 
Church.  Her  serene  countenance,  tearful  eye,  firm  re- 
solve, and  subdued  manner,  all  seemed  to  say, 

"  Xot  in  mine  innocence  I  trust, 
I  bow  before  thee  in  the  dust ; 
But  in  my  Savior's  blood  alone, 
I  look  for  mercy  at  thy  throne." 

Happy  children  !  and  thrice  happy  parents  !  "  Then  Pe- 
ter said  unto  them,  Repent,  and  be  baptized,  every  one 


46-i  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

of  you,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  the  remission  of 
sins,  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
For  the  promise  is  unto  you  and  your  children,  and  all 
that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall 
call "  Acts  ii,  38,  39.  As  I  looked  upon  these  happy 
parents  and  their  offspring,  I  prayed  that  they  might 
finally  thus  stand  together,  before  his  throne  on  high, 
a  family  all  saved  by  grace,  and  receive  the  plaudit  of 
"Well  done  !"  and  enter  together  into  the  joy  of  their 
Lord. 

I  see,  from  my  pocket  diary,  that,  up  to  the  third  day 
of  February,  I  had  received  on  trial  three  hundred  and 
eighty.  On  Sunday,  the  sixth,  I  baptized  fifty  adult  per- 
sons. On  the  seventh  brother  Meharry  was  so  far  recov- 
ered as  to  preach  for  us  once  more.  The  next  Friday  he 
left  us  for  Dayton.  He  will  long  be  remembered  by 
many  in  Piqua  for  his  indefatigable  exertions  during 
that  revival.  Sunday,  February  loth,  we  had  a  sacra- 
mental meeting,  at  which  four  hundred  and  nineteen 
persons  communicated,  many  of  them  for  the  first  time. 
On  Monday  evening  we  had  a  most  deeply-interesting 
"  speaking  meeting."  The  new  converts  spoke  of  their 
conversion  with  much  clearness  and  great  power.  The 
entire  body  of  the  Church  felt  the  quickening  influence 
of  this  most  gracious  visitation;  old  and  young  were 
fully  harnessed  for  the  battle  ;  and,  in  the  midst  of  the 
greatest  excitement  among  sinners,  I  witnessed  little  or 
no  extravagance  among  the  "  disciples,"  although  many 
of  them  were  "  filled  with  the  Spirit."  Those  who  la- 
bored at  the  altar  seemed  to  be  divinely  sustained,  and 
guided  by  H  the  pillar  of  cloud  and  smoke  by  day,  and 
the  shining  of  a  flame  of  fire  by  night;"  "for  on  all  the 
glory  there  was  defense." 

I  have  not  known,  in  all  my  travels,  as  many  efficient 
laborers  in  time  of  a  revival  as  I  found  in  the  Piqua  sta- 


REVIVAL    INCIDENTS.  465 

tion.  I  never  think  of  that  precious  season  without 
offering  a  prayer  for  all  who  assisted  me  on  that  occasion, 
especially  those  noble  women  of  God,  who  labored  with 
me  in  the  Gospel,  and  "  with  others  of  my  fellow-laborers, 
whose  names  are  in  the  book  of  life."  May  Heaven's 
best  blessing  rest  on  those  devoted  women  and  their  fam- 
ilies !  They  have  always  been  the  right  arm  of  Meth- 
odism in  this  beautiful  valley. 

On  Tuesday  evening,  February  15th,  we  had  a  meeting 
of  a  peculiar  character.  It  consisted  of  the  ministers, 
the  official  body,  and  those  only  who  had  united  with  the 
Church  during  the  progress  of  the  revival.  Although 
the  night  was  dark  and  stormy,  over  three  hundred  of 
the  young  converts  were  present.  It  was  a  memorable 
season — one  that  will  never  be  forgotten,  by  some  of  us, 
while  endless  ages  are  onward  rolling.  I  wept  for  joy — 
the  Lord  filled  my  soul  with  gladness.  I  remarked,  at 
the  time,  that  if  all  the  old  members  of  the  station  had 
been  recently  "translated,"  they  would  not  have  been 
missed  so  far  as  numbers  were  concerned. 


CHAPTER    LXXIII. 

REVIVAL    INCIDENTS  —  CONTINUED. 

I  closed  the  protracted  meeting  on  Sunday  night, 
February  20,  1853,  and  commenced  the  difficult  task  of 
regulating  the  classes.  On  the  following  Sabbath  I 
preached  the  funeral  sermon  of  brother  Stephen  Statler, 
who  had  died  in  great  peace.  "With  the  first  week  in 
March  my  health  grew  much  worse,  yet  I  continued  to 
preach  once  or  twice  every  week,  beside  attending  to  the 
business  matters  of  the  Church.  At  the  time  of  our 
third  quarterly  meeting,  in  April,  I  was  persuaded  that 


4.66         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

I  must  soon  cease  my  labors.  I  rested  for  a  time,  but 
experienced  no  relief. 

On  the  first  of  May  the  new  Wayne-Street  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  dedicated  to  God  by  an  eloquent 
and  appropriate  sermon  from  Rev.  John  T.  Mitchell,  of 
Urbana.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon  I  succeeded  in 
raising  a  subscription  and  collection  of  over  six  hundred 
dollars,  the  sum  requisite  to  free  the  society  from  all  in- 
debtedness for  the  lot  and  for  the  erection  of  the  Dew 
church  edifice.  On  the  following  Sabbath  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  preaching  in  the  new  chapel,  in  the  morning, 
from  2  Chron.  xiv,  7  :  "  They  built  and  prospered " — 
and  at  night  in  the  old  church,  from  Psalm  xxix,  11  : 
"  The  Lord  will  give  strength  unto  his  people ;  he  will 
bless  his  people  with  peace."  It  was  an  hour  of  holy 
communion  with  God  never  to  be  forgotten.  I  have  not 
been  able  to  preach  since. 

In  June  I  visited  the  city  of  New  York,  and  had  an 
operation  performed  on  my  throat  by  Dr.  Green,  who  has 
much  celebrity  for  curing  throat-diseases.  The  weather 
at  that  time  was  oppressively  warm.  I  left  the  city,  and 
went  with  my  family  to  the  Weselhoeft  Water-cure  es- 
tablishment, at  Brattleboro,  in  the  state  of  Vermont, 
where  I  found  the  water-treatment  highly  beneficial.  I 
returned  home  in  September,  and  attended  conference  at 
Hillsboro.  At  this  conference  I  was  obliged  to  say  to 
my  fellow-laborers,  "I  am  no  longer  able  to  stand  with 
you  on  the  battle-field.  The  want  of  physical  ability 
compels  me  to  retire  from  the  responsible  duties  of  an 
itinerant  preacher.  It  is  a  hard  trial,  but  the  grace  of 
God  will  enable  me  to  bear  it  cheerfully,  with  a  sweet 
submission  to  his  Divine  will.  You  have  all  been  kind 
to  me;  let  me  still  share  in  your  prayers.  In  my  lonely 
retreat  I  shall  still  cherish  for  you  all  a  brotherly  affec- 
tion, and  pray  God  to  give  you  increasing  success  in  your 


REVIVAL    INCIDENTS.  467 

labors."  They  kindly  granted  me  a  superannuated  rela- 
tion, and  I  returned  to  Piqua,  to  pack  up  our  household 
furniture,  preparatory  to  our  removal,  in  the  latter  part 
of  October.  I  shall  never  forget  the  feelings  with  which 
I  wrote  the  following  letter : 

Kev.  Charles  Elliott,  D.  D., — It  would  be  a  fruit- 
less task  to  attempt  an  analysis  of  the  peculiar  emotion 
with  which  I  have  often  repeated  the  following  words : 
"  My  last  charge  V*  0,  what  painful  and  pleasant  asso- 
ciations stard  connected  with  this  phrase  in  the  mind  of 
a  Methodist  minister  !  How  frequently,  in  the  stillness 
of  the  night,  in  hours  of  seclusion,  does  he  repeat  those 
expressive  words,  "  My  last  charge  I"  0,  what  sad  and 
joyous  memories  cluster  around  them  !  Perhaps  no  one 
lives  so  much  in  the  past  as  an  itinerant  minister — one 
especially  who  has  formed  an  extensive  acquaintance  on 
circuits  and  stations.  This  I  know  is  true  in  regard  to 
myself,  especially  when,  by  affliction,  I  have  been  tempo- 
rarily laid  aside  from  the  active  discharge  of  my  profes- 
sion. The  session  of  our  annual  conference  is  now  over; 
my  dear  brethren  in  the  ministry  have  been  assigned  to 
their  respective  fields  of  ministerial  toil ;  and  while  I  sit 
here  and  write,  most  of  them  are  in  their  annual  transi- 
tion state.  The  Lord  bless  them  and  grant  them  a  cor- 
dial welcome  in  their  new  homes  ! 

My  goods  are  now  all  packed,  and  will  soon  be  removed 
to  a  warehouse,  to  make  room  for  my  successor.  I  hope 
you  will  not  deem  it  unmanly  when  I  tell  you  that  I  have 
made  several  unsuccessful  efforts  to  pack  my  library  books 
and  sermons.  My  fortitude  was  unequal  to  the  task.  1 
had  often  removed  them  before,  but  now  a  strange  feeling 
came  over  me;  I  wept  like  a  child.  For  the  first  time  I 
began  to  realize  that  my  "appointment"  was  not  to  the 
active  field  of  labor,  but  to  "suffer  affliction  with  the 
people  of  God"  in  some  place  of  retirement.     0,  how 


468         FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

consoling,  in  such  an  hour  of  trial,  this  glorious  promise, 
"My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee!"  Thanks  be  to  God  ! 
I  found  it  even  so,  and  I  resumed  my  work  with  a  cheer- 
ful heart.  Our  future  home  is  to  be  in  the  city  of  Bay- 
ton.  But  where  have  I  wandered?  I  intended  to  write 
many  things  about  "my  last  charge,"  in  Piqua  city.  0, 
I  will  never,  never  forget  it !  I  will  often  look  back  to 
it  as  the  scene  of  my  sufferings  and  triumph.  Here 
God  has  been  pleased  to  crown  my  feeble  labors  with 
more  abundant  success  than  in  any  other  place.  I  feel 
that  I  have  already  a  "rich  recompense"  in  the  affections 
of  those  with  whom  I  have  labored  and  been  instru- 
mental in  turning  to  God.  I  must  now  bid  adieu  to  a 
noble  and  generous-hearted  people — Methodists  of  the 
Wesleyan  school,  who  seem  to  rejoice,  most  of  all,  that 
their  "  names  are  written  in  heaven." 

I  must  now  close  this  letter,  and  turn  the  keys,  for  the 
last  time,  in  the  parsonage  front  door.  Surely,  I  will  love 
God  more,  because  of  his  goodness  to  my  family  in  this 
city.  The  recollection  of  the  kindness  of  the  Church 
wherever  I  have  labored,  and  especially  of  my  brethren 
in  the  ministry  of  the  old  Ohio  and  Cincinnati  confer- 
ences, deeply  affects  my  poor  heart  at  this  solemn  mo- 
ment. In  my  lonely  hours  will  they  remember  me  still, 
and  pray  fervently  that  I  may  be  restored  to  the  itinerant 
ranks  ?  but  if  not,  that  I  may  even  be  enabled  to  culti- 
vate a  cheerful  submission  to  the  will  of  my  heavenly 
Father?  "for  to  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain." 
Amen.     Glory  to  Jesus  Christ ! 

Ever  yours,  fraternally,  Maxwell  P.  Gaddis. 

Parsonage,  Piqua  city,  October  25,  1853 


CITY    OP    PIQTTA.  4G9 

CHAPTER  LXXIV 

CITY    OF    PIQUA. 

The  city  of  Piqua  is  delightfully  situated  on  the  bank 
of  the  Miami  river,  in  Miami  county.  The  site  of  the 
town  is  a  level  eminence  encircled  by  woodland  scenery, 
having  the  Miami  river  washing  its  northern  and  east- 
ern boundaries.  The  city  was  laid  out  in  April,  1807, 
by  Messrs.  John  Manning  and  Armstrong  Brandon,  un- 
der the  name  of  Washington,  which  it  retained  for 
many  years.  The  word  "Piqua"  is  the  name  of  one  of 
the  Shawanese  tribe,  who  formerly  inhabited  this  coun- 
try, and  signifies  "a  man  formed  out  of  the  ashes." 
The  tradition  is  that  the  whole  Shawanese  tribe  a  long 
time  ago  were  assembled  at  their  annual  feast  and 
thanksgiving.  They  were  all  seated  around  a  large  fire, 
which,  having  burned  down,  a  great  puffing  was  observed 
among  the  ashes,  when,  behold,  a  full-formed  man  came 
np  out  of  the  coals  and  ashes,  and  this  was  the  first  man 
of  the  Piqua  tribe.  After  the  peace  of  1763  the  Miamis, 
having  removed  from  the  Big  Miami  river,  a  body  of 
Shawanese  established  themselves  at  Upper  Piqua,  which 
became  their  great  headquarters.  Here  they  remained 
till  driven  off  by  the  Kentuckians,  when  they  crossed 
over  to  St.  Marys  and  Waupaukonnetta.  The  Upper 
Piqua  is  said  to  have  contained  at  one  time  nearly  four 
thousand  Shawanese. 

The  plat  of  the  town  of  Piqua  contains  an  area  of 
upward  of  a  mile  square.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,  and  connected  with  it  by  substantial  bridges,  are 
the  villages  of  Rossville  and  Huntersville. 

Methodism  was  introduced  into  this  section  of  coun- 
try at  an  early  period.     The  first  class  was  organized  at 


470       foot-prints  or  an  itinerant. 

the  house  of  Casper  Hendershot  in  the  year  1807,  and 
consisted  of  the  following  persons:  David  Clarke,  leader; 
Matthias  Scudder,  Sarah  Scudder,  Casper  Hendershot, 
Charity  Hendershot,  John  Hendershot,  Isaac  Hender- 
shot, James  Scudder,  Mary  Scudder,  Sarah  Scudder, 
Mrs.  David  Hendershot,  Elizabeth  Hendershot,  Isaac 
Clarke,  Lydia  Clarke,    Sarah  Clarke,  Susan  Winans. 

Brother  James  Scudder  settled  here  in  1806,  and  suc- 
ceeded brother  Clarke  as  leader.  A  few  years  afterward 
a  los  meeting-house,  which  was  also  used  for  school 
purposes,  was  erected  at  Upper  Piqua.  This  preaching 
place  was  denominated  the  "  north-western  appointment ;" 
and  Lebanon,  in  Warren  county,  the  u  south-western 
appointment."  For  a  long  time  the  nearest  appointment 
was  at  Mr.  Rector's,  a  few  miles  from  the  town  of  Ur- 
bana.  A  blazed  path  through  the  forest  was  the  only 
road  connecting  the  first  preaching-places  throughout 
all  this  region  of  country. 

In  the  spring  of  1818  Rev.  John  P.  Finley  settled  in 
the  town  of  Piqua.  During  that  summer  a  little  class 
was  organized  at  his  house,  called  the  "  widow's  class. " 
It  consisted  of  five  or  six  persons.  Mrs.  Mary  Mitchell, 
wife  of  Daniel  Mitchell,  Esq.,  is  the  only  person  now  liv- 
ing in  Piqua  of  the  number  that  composed  that  little  band. 
For  several  years  there  had  been  no  regular  preach- 
ing in  the  winter  season  at  Upper  Piqua,  during  which 
time  the  class  met  on  Thursday,  and  then  held  a  prayer 
meeting  on  Sunday  at  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.  Brother 
James  Scudder  met  both  classes  occasionally. 

The  following  interesting  letter  from  Colonel  William 
M'Lean,  of  precious  memory,  will  show  the  numbers  in 
society  at  Piqua  in  1820 : 

"  Piqua,  Sunday  morning,  September  3,  1820. 

"Dear  Daniel, — You  perceive,  from  the  date  of  my 
letter,  that  in  person  I  am  separated  fifty  or  more  miles 


CITY    OF    PIQUA.  471 

from  my  native  Lome;  but  from  the  time  I  first  awoke 
this  morning  till  now  my  heart  has  been  in  Lebanon, 
with  my  brethren  in  the  class-room,  and  especially  those 
frith  whom  I  used  to  meet,  converse,  and  pray.  I  have 
just  returned  from  a  lonely  walk  in  the  Miami  grove,  and 
while  thus  amusing  myself  I  resolved  that  I  would  re- 
turn to  my  office  and  disburden  my  mind  by  communi- 
cating my  feelings  to  my  friends.  And  while  I  am  now 
writing — in  idea — I  see  and  hear  you  and  your  little 
charge  administering  consolation  and  encouragement  to 
each  other.  I  think  I  have  a  mind  which  was  formed 
for  society,  friendship,  and  unrestrained  intercourse  with 
friends;  deprive  me  of  this,  and  I  am  robbed  of  one  of 
my  chiefest  joys.  0  that  I  had  in  Piqua  a  Foglesong, 
Harnsberger,  Xixon,  Reeves,  or  one  out  of  many  others  I 
could  name  in  Lebanon,  to  whom  I  could  have  free 
access !  it  would  be  to  me  a  relief,  indeed.  But  why  do  I 
murmur?  for  I  know  I  have  a  Friend  here  that  sticketb 
closer  than  any  brother.  I  will  be  content.  I  will 
strive  to  live  at  the  feet  of  Jesus;  and,  while  my  name 
shall  be  known  among  mortals  on  earth,  it  shall  be  identi- 
fied with  the  despised  followers  of  the  despised  Nazarene. 
"I  have  already  heard  the  melancholy  intelligence 
of  the  death  of  two  of  our  most  worthy  female  friends 
in  your  town.  I  am  anxious  to  know  the  manner  of 
their  departure,  although  I  have  no  doubt  they  have 
been  taken  from  the  Church  militant  to  the  Church 
triumphant.  Tell  father  Frazier  to  remember  an  af- 
flicted Job,  and  be  satisfied  to  bear  and  endure  all  things. 
His  companion  is  an  heir  of  glory,  and  has  now  ob- 
tained possession  of  her  inheritance;  and,  as  I  have 
often  told  him,  he  has  passed  the  meridian  of  his  con- 
flicts, and  if  faithful  will  soon,  with  her,  be  forever  at 
rest.  In  the  death  of  mother  Frazier  not  only  her 
family  but  the  Church  have  truly  sustained  a  loss;   but 


472        TOOT-PRINTS    OF    an    itinerant. 

that  is  her  gain.  Tell  brother  and  sister  Skinner  I  often 
think  of  them,  and  love  them  as  well  as  ever,  and  pray 
that  they  may  endure  unto  the  end.  I  feel  like  I 
wanted  to  call  the  names  of  all  our  old  class,  but  must 
desist;  I  have  almost  filled  my  paper,  and  shall  weary  your 
patience. 

UI  am  as  well  pleased  with  Piqua  as  I  expected.  On 
last  Sabbath  I  heard  brother  John  Finley  preach  two 
most  excellent  sermons,  one  in  town  and  the  other  three 
miles  out  in  the  country.  On  Friday  I  met  with  the 
little  few — -fifteen  in  number — in  class.  We  had  a  good 
meeting,  and  I  hope  God  will  give  us  more  grace,  that 
we  may  win  more  to  Christ  in  this  part  of  his  vineyard. 
Brother  Finley  preaches  in  town  this  day  at  eleven 
o'clock,  which  has  now  almost  arrived. 

"Our  little  Sarah  has  been  much  afflicted  since  our 
arrival,  but  she  is  now  on  the  recovery.  My  Sarah  with 
me  casts  a  wishful  eye  toward  Lebanon  occasionally,  but 
she  appears  resigned  to  her  fate.  My  respects  to  your 
mother,  and  sisters,  and  Vincet,  and  all  who  may  in- 
quire. Write  me  soon  and  give  me  particulars.  I  in- 
tend shortly  to  write  to  many  of  my  friends  in  your 
region,  whether  they  write  to  me  or  not. 

"Yours,  truly,  forever,  William  M'Lean. 

"D.  M.  Mitchell,  Esq." 

In  1832  brother  M'Lean  was  elected  to  Congress. 
The  following  letter  will  reveal  his  determination  to  lead 
a  holy  life : 

"  Washington-  City,  Sunday  night,  November  30, 1823. 

"My  Dear  Brother  Mitchell, — I  am  now  seated  in 
my  room  at  my  brother's  in  Georgetown;  the  family  have 
retired  to  rest.  My  mind  is  at  Piqua;  and  believe  me 
sincere  when  I  say,  would  to  God  my  body  was  there  also! 
This  day  and  on  this  evening  I  have  been  to  a  Methodist 
meeting,  and  heard  two  good  sermons  delivered  by  a 


CITY    OF    PIQUA  473 

Drother  M'Can.  Frequently  while  in  the  church  I  fan- 
cied myself  in  the  old  seminary  at  Piqua.  The  3Ieth- 
odists  here  are  not  so  plain  as  in  Ohio,  but  appear  to  be 
devoted,  and  I  have  no  doubt  I  shall  love  them. 

"  There  are  now  in  the  city  more  than  two  hundred 
members  of  Congress,  and  on  to-morrow  I  presume  the 
greater  part  of  the  balance  will  arrive.  Yesterday  I 
waited  on  the  President ;  and,  although  I  felt  somewhat 
embarrassed  on  entering  his  room,  yet  in  a  very  few 
minutes  I  found  myself  perfectly  easy  in  his  presence. 
He  is  plain,  pleasant,  and  remarkably  friendly.  I  have 
become  acquainted  with  some  of  the  heads  of  Department, 
and  many  of  the  members  of  Congress  from  different  parts 
of  the  Union.  The  city  presents  a  bustle  sufficient  to 
confuse  the  mind  of  a  homesick  backwoodsman.  George- 
town is  a  pleasant  place,  and  is  very  nearly  as  large  as 
Cincinnati.  Washington  is  a  delightful  situation.  My 
brother  John  has  a  spacious  residence,  and  had  I  my 
dear  wife  and  children  here  I  could  spend  a  pleasant 
winter.  But  0,  my  soul,  when  I  look  forward  and  reflect 
that  my  stay  is  but  just  commenced,  I  know  not  how  to 
endure  it.  As  yet  I  have  not  heard  a  word  from  home 
since  I  left  it;  I  hope  they  are  all  well  and  in  health.  I 
will  endeavor  not  to  distrust  a  good  and  merciful  Provi- 
dence. Although  my  heart  is  '  deceitful  and  despe- 
rately wicked,'  yet  I  sometimes  feel  that  I  have  access 
to  a  throne  of  grace ;  there,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  am 
resolved  oft  to  be  found.  I  humbly  trust  that  I  shall 
be  kept  from  the  ten  thousand  evils  and  dangers  to 
which  I  am  so  much  exposed.  Will  you  help  me  by 
your  prayers  ?  How  often  this  day  have  I  thought  of 
my  friends  in  Piqua !  Remember  me  affectionately  to 
sister  Mitchell,  your  mother,  and  all  my  friends.  May 
God  bless  you  and  yours !     Farewell. 

"William  M'Lean." 
40 


474  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

I  liave  now  lying  before  me  the  original  subscription 
paper,  dated  October  15,  1822 — with  the  names  of  all 
the  donors — to  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
the  town  of  Piqua.  The  late  Colonel  William  M'Lean 
contributed  fifty  dollars,  the  largest  amount  given  by 
any  individual.  The  document  is  in  the  handwriting 
of  John  Widney,  Esq.,  who  also  contributed  the  sum  of 
forty  dollars.  From  the  appearance  of  this  subscrip- 
tion, it  must  have  been  signed  by  a  large  portion  of  the 
citizens  and  many  in  the  neighborhood.  Some  of  the 
families  are  still  living  who  resided  here  at  that  time — 
Hendershot,  Scudder,  Johnston,  Mitchell,  Kitchen, 
Cheever,  Scott,  Defries,  Keyt,  Caldwell,  Dills,  and  Wid- 
ney, etc.  A  lot  was  purchased  of  Mr.  Elias  Rosel  for 
the  sum  of  thirty  dollars,  lying  on  Spring-street,  east 
of  the  canal;  the  deed  bears  date  of  July  12,  1823/*  On 
this  lot  a  good  substantial  brick  edifice  was  erected,  forty 
feet  long  by  thirty-six  feet  wide.  The  brick  work  was 
put  up  by  John  P.  Davis  as  contractor,  and  the  car- 
penter work  executed  by  John  Keyt.  The  house  was 
finished  June  12,  1824.  The  entire  cost  of  the  lot 
and  church  edifice  was  seven  hundred  dollars.  By  an 
old  class  paper,  now  in  the  possession  of  John  Chee- 
ver, I  think  there  must  have  been  between  fifty  and 
sixty  members  at  that  time.  Brother  Cheever  was 
leader  of  the  third  class  at  that  period.  Rev.  John 
A.  Baughman  and  Rev.  George  W.  Maley  were  the 
preachers  on  this  circuit  at  that  time.  What  hallowed 
associations  cluster  around  the  first  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  Piqua!  Here  a  Collins,  a  Quinn,  a 
Raper,  a  Bigelow,  a  Sale,  a  Strange,  a  Finley,  a  Christie, 
and  many  more  dearly-beloved  ministers  proclaimed  the 
Gospel  of  peace.  The  society  continued  to  occupy  the 
old  brick  for  a  long  time,  but  finally  resolved  to  erect  a 
more  spacious  building  on  the  other  side  of  the  canal 


CITY    OF    PIQUA.  475 

A  beautiful  lot  was  purchased  for  the  sum  of  four  hun- 
dred dollars,  of  Robert  Young,  Esq.,  on  the  corner  of 
Green  and  Wayne  streets.  The  board  of  trustees  held  a 
preliminary  meeting,  December  29,  1834,  and  opened  a 
subscription  for  the  new  edifice.  The  old  house  was  dis- 
posed of  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars.  The  new 
church  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1837,  and  dedicated 
to  God  by  Rev.  William  H.  Raper. 

The  following  address  was  written  by  sister  Mitchell 
when  very  young,  who  still  survives,  and  is  the  oldest 
member  in  Piqua : 

"TO  ALL  MY  BELOVED   SISTERS  IN    THE    LORD    ON    MlAMI 
CIRCUIT : 

"Will  you  bear  with  my  weakness  while  I  address 
you?  Having  the  cause  of  my  Master  and  the  prosperity 
of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  at  heart  as  well  as  myself,  I 
know  you  will  pardon  my  imperfect  manner  while  I  try 
to  stir  up  your  pure  minds  by  way  of  remembrance. 
The  subject  which  lays  so  heavy  on  my  heart  is  the 
'support'  of  our  spiritual  teachers.  It  grieves  my 
heart  to  see  them  traveling  through  frosts,  and  snow, 
and  rain,  and  mud — sometimes  with  a  poor  horse  and 
indifferent  clothing,  all  of  which  have  been  worn  out 
in  preaching  the  Gospel.  When  I  think  on  these  things 
I  can  not  sleep  at  night.  0,  my  dear  sisters,  let  us  think 
of  the  comforts  that  we  enjoy.  We  have  our  dear  com- 
panions with  us  to  provide  for  our  wants,  and  to  cherish 
and  soothe  us  in  the  dark  hours  of  affliction.  But  0  let 
us  not  forget  the  wives  of  our  spiritual  guides;  they  have 
none  of  these  comforts.  Let  us  not  withhold  our  little 
'mite'  to  help  those  dear  ministers  and  their  families, 
who  are  destitute  of  many  earthly  comforts  that  we 
enjoy.  Some  of  our  ministers  have  left  behind  tender 
wives  and  helpless  little  children,  and  torn  away  from 
the  fond  embrace  of  aged  and  loving  parents  for  our 


476         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

good.  They  have  ' forsaken  air  to  minister  to  our 
spiritual  tcants.  When  I  think  of  their  deprivations  1 
can  not  refrain  from  weeping  as  I  write.  Ought  we  not, 
then,  to  deprive  ourselves  of  some  little  superfluity,  or 
even  some  things  that  we  may  call  the  '  necessaries  of 
life/  but  in  the  sight  of  God  are  not  really  so?  0  shall 
we  not  divide  our  temporal  substance  with  those  men 
of  God  who  are  laboring  day  and  night  for  our  spiritual 
welfare?  It  is  right  that  we  should.  In  fancy  I  hear 
you  all  respond,  '  We  will!'  I  will  say,  then,  as  one  of 
old,  '  If  thy  heart  be  as  my  heart,  give  me  thy  hand.' 
Our  blessed  Savior  in  days  of  old  was  willing  to  accept 
the  'offerings'  of  our  sex,  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  will 
do  it  again.  By  giving  our  'mite'  the  Lord  will  bless 
our  basket  and  store,  and  bless  our  souls  also,  and  we 
will  hear  of  glorious  times  all  round  the  circuit.  What 
we  do,  let  us  do  it  quickly.  'The  Lord  loveth  a  cheer- 
ful giver.'  0  let  us  all  examine  ourselves  and  see  if  the 
Lord  has  not  some  work  for  us  to  do,  although  we  are 
the  'weaker  vessels.'  Let  us  act  well  our  part,  and  be 
mothers  and  sisters  for  those  servants  of  God — some  of 
whom  we  are  likely  to  lose  for  the  want  of  a  support 
for  their  suffering  families.  Do  not  think  I  wish  to 
dictate — I  write  to  stimulate  myself  as  well  as  you.  Do 
not  think  I  am  surrounded  with  wealth.  0  no,  my  poor 
hand  now  trembles  with  fatigue  from  hard  labor,  which  I 
find  necessary  to  procure  us  a  living  in  this  world.  On 
last  New-Year's  morning  I  determined  to  be  more  faith- 
ful to  my  Lord  and  Master." 

"Neighborhood  of  Trot,  State  of  Ohio,  March  11, 1812. 

"Dear  Brother, — Perhaps  you  will  think  it  strange 
that,  unsolicited,  you  should  be  troubled  with  a  letter 
from  an  almost  stranger,  who,  notwithstanding  his  small 
acquaintance,  recollects   to  have  solicited  a  continuance 


MOSES  crume's  letter.  477 

of  it  by  a  future  correspondence,  and  thinks  he  obtained 
a  conditional  promise.  You  will,  perhaps,  recollect  see- 
ing me,  in  company  with  brother  Sale,  at  brother  Ezekiel 
Hall's,  Cincinnati,  when  you  first  arrived  there,  and  at 
the  White  Water  quarterly  meeting,  from  which  you  came 
home  with  me.  I  have  heard  of  you  but  a  few  times 
since.  However,  as  I  still  travel,  it  is  my  lot  this  year  to 
travel  among  your  connections,  which  has  brought  you 
fresh  to  my  mind;  and,  considering  your  peculiar  circum- 
stances, I  felt  like  it  would  be  duty  to  make  this  commu- 
nication. We  are  blessed  with  many  great  and  high 
privileges,  and  ought  to  know  how  to  feel  for  you  who  are 
destitute  of  the  Gospel  privileges,  except  reading  the 
Scriptures  and  prayer.  But  you  have  this  one  consolation, 
the  throne  of  grace  is  as  near  to  Fort  Wayne  as  to  any 
other  place  in  this  world,  and  the  merciful  ear  of  the 
Almighty  is  as  open  to  prayer  from  that  fortification  as 
from  a  temple  or  meeting-house,  and  the  omnipresent 
Spirit  of  God  is  as  ready  to  help  your  infirmities,  and  to 
assist  you  in  repelling  the  fiery  darts  of  the  devil,  and 
the  hard  and  unrighteous  speeches  of  cruel  and  ungodly 
men,  together  with  all  the  allurements  of  the  world  and 
the  flesh — that  God  who  knows  how  to  deliver  the  godly 
out  of  temptation,  can  as  easy  keep  you  from  falling 
among  savage  men  and  among  soldiers,  perhaps  rendered 
more  wicked  by  refinement,  as  if  you  were  blessed  with 
all  the  privileges  of  civil  and  religious  society;  but  your 
happiness  must  be  greatly  curtailed  among  the  former. 

"  Perhaps  it  will  be  a  great  satisfaction  to  you  to  hear 
that  the  Lord  is  pouring  out  his  Spirit  in  a  wonderful 
manner  among  us  in  this  part  of  the  world.  In  all  the 
circuits  I  am  acquainted  with  there  is  a  mighty  stir,  and 
a  great  ingathering  of  souls.  Frequently  as  high  as  fif- 
teen or  twenty  join  in  a  day,  many  of  whom  were  recently 
happily  and,  we  trust,  soundly  converted  to  God,     We 


478         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

hope  this  is  a  work  that  will  not  cease  to  prosper  as  long 
as  the  sun  and  moon  endure. 

"  Being  prevented  by  high  water  from  pursuing  my 
appointments,  I  have  been  favored  with  the  privilege  of 
visiting  some  of  your  connections,  with  whom  I  have  been 
most  agreeably  entertained,  and  much  delighted  to  see 
them  so  sincerely  engaged  in  religion.  Tour  mother  does 
not  cease  to  pour  out  her  soul  in  prayer  for  your  welfare. 
Your  sister-in-law — the  late  agent's  wife,  who  has  lately 
joined  the  society — seems  earnestly  engaged  for  her  sal- 
vation, and  I  believe  and  humbly  hope  is  not  far  from  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  The  young  woman  also,  who  lives 
with  them,  seems  much  engaged  for  the  kingdom.  I 
spent  the  last  night  under  the  hospitable  roof  of  your 
mother-in-law,  and  was  very  much  delighted  with  the 
heavenly-minded  old  lady  and  her  respectable  young 
family,  who,  I  hope,  are  all  desirous  to  serve  God  in  the 
days  of  their  youth.  I  suppose  you  are  not  unacquainted 
with  your  mother-in-law's  having  embarked  in  the  cause  of 
Methodism.  I  believe  the  Methodists  will  be  a  blessing 
in  composing  the  mind  and  consolidating  the  union  of 
society  in  this  part,  although  there  will  be  considerable 
opposition.  And  now,  dear  brother,  I  commend  you  tc 
God  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  beseeching  you  to  be 
incessant  in  your  prayers  to  God  to  preserve  you  and  to 
keep  you  from  falling,  till  he  shall  bring  you  again  to 
enjoy  privileges  with  his  people,  and  finally  to  partake  of 
his  eternal  kingdom  in  heaven,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord. 

"I  am,  dear  brother,  yours,  Moses  Crume. 

"Mr.  Stephen  Johnston." 

"Logan  Couxty,  Kentucky,  August  11, 1804. 

"My  Dear  Friend, — I  should  be  happy  to  see  Col. 
Mitchell  and  yourself  and  family,  if  opportunity  and  con- 


JAMES  M'GREADY'S  LETTER.      479 

venience  would  permit;  but  if  I  should  not  have  the 
pleasure  of  an  interview  with  you  on  earth,  I  hope  to  meet 
you  in  heaven.  I  think  you  once  had  a  comfortable  hope 
that  you  were  upon  the  road,  and  your  friend  M'Callister 
informs  me  that  you  are  still  pressing  on  toward  your 
heavenly  Father's  house.  It  is  now  eighteen  years  since 
I  felt  the  love  of  Jesus  in  my  soul ;  and  this  I  could  seal 
with  my  blood,  and  publish  with  my  dying  breath,  that 
there  is  no  comfort,  no  pleasure,  nor  satisfaction  under 
heaven  to  be  compared  with  that  which  is  to  be  enjoyed 
in  viewing  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus,  feeling 
the  pardon  of  sin  and  the  witness  of  God's  own  word  and 
Spirit,  that  I  shall  spend  a  blessed  eternity  with  Christ  in 
his  Father's  kingdom.  You  have  come  to  a  country 
where  the  Lord  has  been  working  wonders,  where  Deists, 
drunkards,  Sabbath-breakers,  profane  swearers,  and  sin- 
ners of  every  description,  have  been  changed  into  humble, 
praying  Christians.  Eight  years  ago,  when  I  first  came 
to  Logan  county,  there  was  scarcely  the  outward,  visible 
form  of  religion  in  the  settlements  south  of  Green  river, 
or  through  all  Cumberland.  Infidelity,  wickedness,  and 
dissipation  of  every  kind  universally  prevailed.  But  0, 
what  wonders  has  the  Lord  done  for  his  Church  in  this 
western  land !  The  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  has 
indeed  been  made  glad.  The  desert  has  rejoiced  and 
blossomed  as  the  rose.  Hundreds,  yea,  thousands,  of 
dead  souls  have  been  quickened  by  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
and  raised  to  newness  of  life.  But  perhaps,  my  dear 
friend,  you  will  be  surprised  when  you  see  a  variety  of 
strange  things,  uncommon  bodily  exercises  and  agitations, 
attending  this  blessed  work  that  has  overspread  our  coun- 
try. These  things  may  indeed  appear  to  you  strange  and 
wonderful.  Perhaps  you  may  feel  many  fears  and  scruples 
whether  they  are  right,  and  sometimes  strong  prejudices 
rising  in  your  mind  against  them.     This  has  been  the 


480  FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

case  with  many  of  God's  children  at  their  first  coming  to 
the  country,  and  it  was  my  case  at  the  first  beginning  of 
the  work  in  this  country.  This  falling  down,  loud  out- 
cries, loud  shouting,  dancing,  laughing,  etc.,  struck  me 
with  wonder,  and  filled  me  with  awful  fears  lest  it  might 
not  be  the  work  of  God;  at  the  same  time  I  was  con- 
strained to  conceal  my  fears  lest  these  things  might  be 
of  God,  and  I  should  oppose  them.  Under  such  difficul- 
ties I  labored  many  months  till  it  pleased  the  Lorl  to 
give  me  clearer  light  upon  them. 

u  Permit  me,  my  friend,  to  make  a  few  observations 
which  I  have  learned  from  my  own  experience.  In  the 
first  place,  we  are  apt  to  condemn  every  thing  that  we  nor 
our  fathers  never  saw  before.  We  are  apt  to  regulate  the 
work  of  God  by  the  opinions  of  our  parents  or  our  old 
ministers  where  we  formerly  lived,  or  the  practice  of  thp 
good  people  where  we  were  raised.  Any  thing  beyond 
this,  we  are  apt  to  think,  is  wrong;  but  let  us  fear  and 
tremble,  and  with  the  deepest  humility  remember  that 
the  Almighty  Jehovah  is  a  sovereign.  He  chooses  his 
own  mode  of  operations  and  works  in  his  own  way.  Let 
us,  with  joy  and  gratitude,  bid  him  welcome  to  his 
Church,  welcome  to  our  families,  and  welcome  to  our 
hearts,  though  he  should  fill  our  souls  so  full  of  his  love 
that  we  should  dance  like  David  before  the  ark  of  God, 
or  clap  our  hands  and  shout  with  the  voice  of  triumph  as 
in  Psalm  xlvii,  1,  or  like  the  daughter  of  Zion  when  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel  was  in  the  midst  of  her.  Isaiah  xii, 
G.  Yea,  let  us  bid  the  blessed  Jesus  welcome,  though 
he  should  give  us  such  large  draughts  of  his  heavenly 
love  that,  like  old  Abraham,  we  should  be  constrained  to 
laugh — Genesis  xvii,  17 — or,  though  our  mouth  should 
be  tilled  with  laughter  and  our  tongues  with  singing,  like 
the  rMBomed  Church  in  the  126th  Psalm. 

'Another  observation  I  would  make  is,  we  are  prone  to 


JAMES    M'GREADY'S    LETTER.  481 

call  things  that  are  new  and  uncommon  to  us  in  religion, 
delusion  and  enthusiasm.  But  let  us  consider  there  is 
no  delusion  in  bodily  exercise  or  in  bodily  agitations; 
there  is  neither  delusion,  nor  yet  religion,  in  falling 
down,  nor  in  loud  outcries,  nor  in  skipping  about,  nor  in 
shouting  aloud,  nor  in  laughing,  nor  jerking,  etc.;  yet  all 
these  things  may  be  the  effects  of  inexpressible  joy  and 
comfort,  such  as  the  people  of  God  often  experience  when 
they  get  near  to  God,  when  they  feel  the  love  of  Jesus, 
and  read  their  title  sure  to  immortal  glory  and  blessed- 
ness. Neither  delusion  nor  enthusiasm  had  their  seat  in 
-he  body,  but  in  the  mind.  Delusion  and  enthusiasm  are 
disorders  of  the  mind.  When,  therefore,  we  would  judge 
whether  a  man's  exercise  is  Scriptural  and  right,  or 
whether  it  is  delusion,  we  are  not  to  judge  it  from  any  un- 
common agitation  of  his  body,  but  we  are  to  examine  by 
the  word  of  God  what  his  views  of  God,  of  Christ,  of  sin, 
of  holiness,  of  the  Scriptures,  and  of  the  love  of  God 
are,  and  what  effects  are  produced  in  his  life  and  conver- 
sation by  them.  These  are  the  ways  of  judging  true  re- 
ligion, and  of  judging  delusion  and  enthusiasm,  and  not 
by  bodily  exercise.  But  the  question  may  arise,  of  what 
use  are  these  strange  and  uncommon  appearances?  Let 
us  consider  this  and  the  like  questions  with  reverence, 
awe,  and  deep  humility.  This  I  would  say:  the  Lord,  for 
wise  purposes,  has  chosen  so  to  work.  I  would  just  add  a 
remark  I  heard  from  the  aged,  reverend,  and  pious  David 
Rice.  'I  think/  said  he,  'God  answers  one  purpose  by 
these  uncommon  exercises,  which  he  once  answered  by 
extraordinary  miracles.  The  design  of  miracles/  said 
he,  'was  twofold.  1.  To  demonstrate  the  divinity  of  the 
Gospel.  2.  To  arouse  the  attention  of  a  stupid  world, 
that  while  mankind  crowded  in  multitudes  together  to 
see  strange  and  wonderful  things,  the  Lord  reached  their 
hearts  with  the  convincing  and  converting  power  and  en- 
41 


482  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

ergy  of  his  Spirit.  So/  lie  added,  l  this  last  purpose  is 
answered  by  these  uncommon  appearances.  The  atten- 
tion of  a  giddy,  unthinking  world  is  aroused  j  they  go  out 
in  multitudes  to  see  strange  and  wonderful  things.  By 
this  means  they  are  brought  in  the  way  of  the  means,  and 
numbers  are  savingly  converted.' 

"When  difficulties  of  this  kind,  and  strong  prejudices, 
crowd  upon  the  minds  of  Christians,  I  know  by  experi- 
ence it  kills  their  exercise,  robs  them  of  their  comfort 
and  covers  their  souls  with  leanness  and  barrenness. 
Therefore,  my  friend,  do  not  judge  hastily,  but  carry  the 
case  to  the  Lord,  by  earnest,  fervent  prayer;  be  willing 
that  the  Lord  should  comfort  your  soul  just  in  his  own 
way.  He  is  a  sovereign ;  do  not  prescribe  to  him,  nor 
presume  to  limit  his  operations.  0,  how  happy  a  place 
heaven  will  be  when  Christ  gets  all  his  blood-bought 
children  gathered  home  to  his  Father's  house,  to  the 
place  which  he  is  now  preparing  for  them !  There  no  dif- 
ficulties, nor  prejudices,  nor  doubts,  nor  fears,  will  ever 
mar  their  comforts  to  eternity;  yet  there  they  will  be  the 
subjects  of  exercises  to  eternity  as  strange,  as  wonderful, 
and  as  uncommon  as  any  that  we  see  here  in  the  Church 
militant.  In  Rev.  v,  11,  12,  the  apostle  tells  us  that  he 
'heard  the  voices  of  many  angels  around  the  throne,  and 
their  number  was  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand,  and 
thousands  of  thousands;  saying  with  a  loud  voice,  Wor- 
thy is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  to  receive  power,  and 
riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  honor,  and  glory, 
and  blessing/  And  in  Rev.  xix,  he  tells  us  that  their 
loud  songs  and  halleluiahs  were  like  the  'voice  of  many 
waters,  and  as  the  voice  of  mighty  thunderings.' 

"  The  reason  of  my  writing  to  you  so  particularly  was  a 
hint  from  Mr.  M'Allister  to  me,  that  you  felt  some  diffi- 
culty upon  this  subject;  he  touched  it  in  the  most  tender, 
loving,   and  friendly  manner,  with  every  expression  of 


GOVERNOR    A.    T.    AND    THE    THIEF.        483 

regard  for  you  as  a  relative  and  a  Christian.  I  write  to  you 
as  a  friend,  and  I  trust  you  will  receive  every  sentence  of 
it  in  Christian  friendship.  If  you  have  any  further  scru- 
ples upon  the  subject,  write  to  me  and  I  will  give  you 
every  satisfaction  in  my  power.  Dear  sister,  pray  for  me. 
Give  my  kindest  love  to  my  friend,  Col.  Mitchell.  I  ad- 
minister the  sacrament  at  Muhlenberg  court-house  the 
third  Sabbath  in  October.  Perhaps  Col.  Mitchell  and 
jrourself  could  attend  there. 

"I  am,  with  respect,  yours,  etc., 

"Ja:\£es  M'Gready." 

The  above  unique  letter  was  written  by  a  Presbyterian 
minister,  of  high  standing.  I  leave  my  readers  to  form 
their  own  opinions  about  the  matters  therein  discussed. 


CHAPTER   LXXY. 

EX-GO  V.     TRIMBLE   AND     THE     THIEF. 

ul    HAVE    NOT     SEEN    THE    RIGHTEOUS    FORSAKEN,   NOR  EOS    SEED    BEGG3f<I 
BREAD." 

A  striking  exemplification  of  this  declaration  will 
be  found  in  the  sequel  of  this  truthful  narrative  : 

A  young  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Cottinger,  an  em- 
ploye in  a  large  mercantile  house,  was  sent  out  to  Ohio 
to  collect  accounts  for  the  firm  of .  He  had  vis- 
ited his  most  distant  creditors,  and  on  his  return  stopped 
to  tarry  for  the  night  at  Snow-Hill  tavern,  between  the 
towns  of  H.  and  W.,  some  six  miles  distant  from  the 
latter.  At  that  early  period  the  country  was  new,  the 
roads  very  bad,  and  the  only  safe  and  speedy  mode  of 
traveling  was  on  horseback.  Mr.  Cottinger,  after  supper, 
went  out  to  look  after  his  horse.     To  his  surprise,  he 


484  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

found  that  the  hostler  had  retired  without  cleaning  off  the 
mud  or  rubbing  down  his  jaded  animal.  Knowing  that 
lie  had  a  long  journey  before  him  yet  to  make,  he  took 
off  his  overcoat,  hung  it  upon  the  stall,  and,  setting 
down  his  lantern,  commenced  currying  the  horse  him- 
self. While  engaged  in  this  work,  a  man  by  the  name 
of  H.  came  out  to  the  stable,  and,  by  the  light  of  the 
lantern,  saw  the  pocket-book  of  Mr.  Cottinger  in  his 
overcoat,  and,  stepping  into  the  other  stall,  he  put  his 
hand  over,  and  succeeded  in  extracting  the  book  un- 
observed by  its  unsuspecting  owner.  He  then  walked 
out  and  concealed  it  beneath  a  large  haystack,  in  the 
rear  of  the  stable,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  house, 
and  retired  to  bed.  When  Mr.  C.  had  finished  cleaning 
his  horse,  he  put  on  his  overcoat  and  returned  to  the 
hotel.  Missing  the  money  before  retiring,  diligent 
search  was  made  about  the  house  and  stable  for  the  lost 
pocket-book,  but  all  in  vain.  Mr.  H.  was  suspicioned 
for  committing  the  theft,  but  nothing  could  be  proved 
against  him.  The  young  man  was  almost  distracted  on 
account  of  the  loss  of  the  money,  and  he  tarried  for  a 
long  time  in  that  region  of  the  country,  and  exerted 
himself  to  the  utmost  to  ferret  out  the  thief,  but  with- 
out success.  He  finally  concluded  to  return  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  make  known  his  sad  misfortune  to  his  employ- 
ers. Governor  T.  told  me  that  before  the  young  man 
reached  home,  such  was  his  mental  agony,  that  his  hair, 
which  was  jet  black,  turned  as  white  as  wool,  a  thing 
which  sometimes  happens  when  persons  are  laboring 
under  great  mental  excitement. 

Several  years  afterward,  while  the  Governor  was  sitting 
in  his  office,  a  man  by  the  name  of  H.,  who  was  then 
living  on  a  small  farm  which  belonged  to  T.,  called  to 
inquire  how  much  he  asked  per  acre  for  the  land  The 
Governor,  being  a  man  of  deep  penetration,  and  a  good 


GOVERNOR    A.    T.     AND     THE    THIEF.      485 

judge  of  human  nature,  knowing  well  that  Mr.  H.  was 
destitute  of  the  means  to  purchase  laud,  questioned  him 
closely  as  to  the  way  in  which  he  expected  to  raise  the 
money.  From  his  embarrassment  and  evident  confusion, 
the  Governor  feared  that  all  was  not  right;  and,  while 
meditating  upon  the  subject,  in  an  instant  the  conviction 
flashed  upon  his  mind,  "I  have  no  doubt  this  is  the 
man  who  stole  the  pocket-book  from  the  unfortunate 
Cottinger  at  Snow-Hill  tavern."  However,  he  kept  the 
matter  to  himself,  and  made  an  appointment  to  go  out 
and  look  at  the  land  with  Mr.  H.,  saying  to  him,  " Per- 
haps we  can  agree  upon  the  price."  The  Governor  made 
known  his  suspicions  to  Amstedt  D.}  a  large,  stalwart 
man,  who  was  acting  at  that  time  as  constable,  or  deputy 
sheriff.  They  made  their  arrangements  to  take  him  pris- 
oner, and  then  whip  him  till  he  should  confess  his  guilt 
and  deliver  up  the  money. 

On  the  day  appointed  to  examine  the  farm  and  "fix 
upon  a  price/'  the  Governor  and  his  posse  journeyed  to- 
gether till  they  arrived  at  a  dense  forest,  where  Amstedt 
and  his  men,  with  their  ropes,  concealed  themselves,  and 
Governor  T.  passed  on  to  the  house  alone.  Mr.  H.  sad- 
dled his  horse,  and  rode  with  the  Governor  all  over  the 
woodland,  till  they  arrived  at  the  boundary  line  on  the 
west.  Here  Mr.  H.  manifested  some  uneasiness,  and 
told  the  Governor  he  had  some  business  in  another 
neighborhood,  and  should  go  and  attend  to  it  before  he 
returned  to  his  home  again.  The  Governor  continued 
talking  about  the  purchase  of  his  land,  and,  riding  up 
by  the  side  of  Mr.  H.,  he  instantly  grabbed  him  by  the 
throat,  and  exclaimed,  "  You  infamous  scoundrel,  you  are 
my  prisoner!  I  lenow  you  are  the  very  man  that  stole 
Cottinger  s  money!"  and  then,  throwing  his  foot  over  the 
bridle-reins  of  the  thief,  led  him  by  the  neck-collar  for 
more  than  half  a  mile  through  the  woods,  to  the  place 


486         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

where  Ainstedt  and  his  men  were  concealed  behind  a 
log.  Those  acquainted  with  Governor  T.  will  not  be 
surprised  at  his  heroic  conduct  in  leading  a  man  by  the 
collar  through  a  dense  woodland. 

On  seeing  the  prisoner  they  made  him  dismount,  and 
then  bound  him  hand  and  foot.  They  then  informed 
him  that  they  intended  to  lynch  him  in  the  most  terrible 
manner  unless  he  confessed  his  guilt  and  produced  the 
money.  At  first  he  protested  that  he  was  an  innocent 
man.  "But,"  said  the  Governor,  "where  did  you  pro- 
cure money  to  purchase  my  farm  ?  Every  body  knows 
that  you  are  a  poor  man,  and  too  lazy  to  work.  Now,  H., 
you  had  better  tell,  or  I  fear  when  Arnstedt  commences 
whipping  you  with  these  green  switches  he  will  not  leave 
off  till  you  are  excoriated  from  neck  to  heels."  The 
prisoner,  knowing  the  unrelenting  nature  of  the  man 
employed  to  whip  him,  concluded  to  make  confession  of 
his  guilt  before  he  was  flayed  in  such  an  unmerciful  man- 
ner. He  then  confessed  that  he  had  put  the  bank-bills 
in  a  hollow  tree  in  front  of  his  house,  about  eight  feet 
from  the  ground.  The  Governor  succeeded  in  recovering 
nearly  one  thousand  dollars.  H.  was  duly  tried  and  im- 
prisoned at  W.,  in  the  county  jail,  to  await  his  trial  at 
court.  Mr.  C.,  at  Philadelphia,  was  informed  of  the 
fact,  and  the  money  forwarded  to  him  in  due  time.  Gov- 
ernor T.  received  a  letter  of  thanks  not  only  from  Mr. 
Cottinger,  but  also  from  the  mercantile  house  that  had 
employed  him. 

The  father  of  the  prisoner  was  professedly  a  religious 
man,  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  deeply  sympathized  with  his  son  while  in  prison, 
and  always  seemed  much  affected  on  parting  with  him. 
These  occasions  were  always  improved  by  the  old  gentle- 
man in  singing  and  prayer.  At  last  the  jailer  allowed 
the  old  gentleman  to  remain  all  night  with  his  appar- 


governor  a.    t.   and   the   thief.     487 

ently-disconsolate  and  penitent  son.  (?)  The  father  made 
the  night  vocal  with  his  loud  prayers  and  lively  songs, 
occasionally  interspersed  with  shouting.  The  sympathy 
of  the  whole  community  was  aroused  by  the  conduct  of 
this  devoted  parent  and  zecdous  Methodist.  (?)  The  jailer 
went  to  bed  and  slept  soundly;  but  imagine  his  surprise, 
on  going  to  the  jail  early  in  the  morning,  to  find  the 
prisoner  had  made  his  escape,  and  in  the  following  novel 
manner : 

His  father  had  succeeded,  by  his  devotional  exercises, 
in  gaining  the  confidence  of  the  jailer,  who  had  per- 
mitted Mr.  H.  to  remain  without  examining  his  person 
to  see  if  he  had  any  instruments  to  aid  his  son  in  mak- 
ing his  escape.  But  in  this  he  was  mistaken;  for  while 
the  old  man  was  singing,  praying,  and  shouting  so  long 
and  loud  during  the  night,  his  son  was  engaged  in  filing 
off  the  bars  of  the  window-grate  in  the  back  part  of  his 
cell,  with  files  procured  by  his  father  for  that  express 
purpose.  What  a  sad  comment  upon  poor  fallen  nature ' 
The  guilty  man  escaped  to  parts  unknown  through  the 
strategy 'of  a  hypocritical  father,  who  had,  evidently, 

"  Stolen  the  livery  of  heav'n 
To  serve  the  devil  in." 

The  whole  family,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  removed 
to  the  far  west,  and  nothing  special  was  heard  from  any 
of  them. 

While  stationed  in  the  city  of  C,  I  was  making  a  short 

visit  to   the  house   of  Eev.  ,  pastor  of  one   of  the 

largest  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches  in  the  west. 
While  sitting  there  a  messenger  called  upon  my  friend 
and  pastor  of  the  Church,  requesting  him  to  call  at  No. 
— ,  on  Broadway,  below  Fifth-street,  to  see  an  aged  man 
in  distress,  who  was  traveling.  At  his  request,  I  con- 
cluded to  accompany  him.     We  were  met  by  an  aged 


488  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

and  rather  venerable-looking  man,  bowed  down  under 
the  weight  of  more  than  "  threescore  years  and  ten." 
He  wept  as  he  related  his  past  misfortunes  and  forlorn 
condition  at  that  time.  He  said  that  he  had  been 
trying  to  serve  God  for  nearly  half  a  century;  he  knew 
that  he  had  not  been  faithful,  at  times,  to  his  covenant; 
he  was  now  in  want,  cast  off  by  his  relatives,  and  obliged 
to  go  among  strangers,  to  beg  his  bread  from  house  to 
house.  We  gave  him  a  temporary  supply,  and  took  our 
departure,  promising  to  see  him  again  the  next  day.  As 
we  walked  up  the  street,  Doctor  T.  seemed  lost  in  pro- 
found meditation,  and  at  last  he  addressed  me  as  follows : 
" Brother  G.,  I  am  sorely  tempted."  "Why  so?"  I 
asked.  He  then  remarked,  "I  have  been  tempted  by 
the  devil,  ever  since  I  left  that  house,  to  doubt  the  truth 
of  this  promise,  '  I  have  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken, 
nor  his  seed  begging  bread.'  I  am  very  sorry  I  met  that 
old  Christian  man."  I  then  told  him  it  perplexed  me 
also  very  much,  yet  I  should  wait  for  further  develop- 
ments before  making  up  my  mind  in  his  particular  case. 
He  replied,  "  I  have  also  come  to  the  same  conclusion. 
To-morrow,  God  willing,  I  will  make  a  full  examination 
into  this  matter."  "Let  God  be  true  and  every  man  a 
liar."  His  promises  are  u  yea  and  amen."  A  faithful 
investigation  clearly  demonstrated  that  this  aged  man, 
by  repeated  acts  of  unfaithfulness  to  God  and  his 
Church,  had  forfeited  all  claim  to  the  divine  regards, 
or  sympathy  and  assistance  of  his  Christian  brethren. 
What  does  the  reader  suppose  was  my  own  feelings,  on 
learning  the  name  and  former  residence  of  this  man,  to 
be  assured  that  it  was  the  same  distinguished  personage 
who  prayed  and  shouted  so  loud,  nearly  all  night,  while 
assisting  his  guilty  son  to  escape  from  the  hands  of 
justice!  The  mystery  was  now  solved,  and  my  good 
brother,   Dr.   T.    was  no  longer   tempted   to   doubt  the 


MY    SECOND    CIRCUIT.  489 

truth  of  that  cheering  promise,  "Once  I  was  young,  and 
now  I  am  old,  yet  have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken, 
nor  his  seed  begging  bread."  It  is  always  best  to  do 
right,  and  then  God  will  not  forsake  us  in  time  of  need. 

"  Sincerity !  thou  first  of  virtues, 
Let  no  one  leave  thee  onward — 
Although  the  earth  should  gape, 
And  from  the  gulf  of  hell  destruction  cry, 
To  take  dissimulation's  winding  xcay" 


CHAPTER  LXXVI. 

A    TRIP     ALONG     THE    BORDERS     OP     MY     SEC- 
OND    CIRCUIT. 

"What  thrilling  emotions  are  awakened  as  I  pass  along 
the  southern  borders  of  my  second  circuit — White  Oak ! 
In  coming  from  Maysville  my  first  appointment  was  at 
Higginsport,  the  next  on  Bullskin,  then  Chilo,  Moscow, 
and  Neville,  on  the  Ohio  river.  At  Chilo,  at  the  house 
of  brother  Prather,  the  first  Methodist  preachers  found  a 
home  more  than  fifty  years  ago.  There  I  first  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  the  widow  Pigman,  now  Mrs.  Teter, 
and  her  interesting  family,  several  of  whom  have  already 
passed  over  Jordan.  "White  Oak  circuit!  I  love  its  name, 
and  delight  even  now  to  dwell  upon  its  past  history.  It 
is  full  of  pleasant  and  profitable  reflections.  I  will  give 
a  brief  sketch  of  its  early  history. 

Methodism  was  introduced  into  this  region,  along  the 
borders,  at  an  early  day.  A  small  settlement  was  first 
made  in  the  upper  part  of  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  along 
the  banks  of  the  Ohio  river.  This  part  of  the  coun- 
try was  then  embraced  in  what  was  called  the  North- 
western  territory  of   the    United  States.     In  the  year 


490  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

1795  or  1796,  Rev.  George  Brown,  a  local  preacher,  set- 
tled on  Snag  creek,  in  Kentucky,  nearly  opposite  where 
Moscow  now  stands.  This  zealous  and  devoted  man 
soon  crossed  over  the  Ohio  river,  and  commenced  preach- 
ing in  a  log-cabin  at  the  mouth  of  Bullskin,  on  Bear 
creek.  His  labors  were  greatly  blessed  to  the  good  of 
the  people.  Rev.  Peter  Hastings,  with  whom  I  was  well 
acquainted,  who,  at  that  period,  lived  near  Germantown, 
Kentucky,  also  frequently  crossed  the  river  and  preached 
at  Bullskin.  About  1798  or  1799,  Rev.  Joseph  Tatman, 
a  local  preacher  from  Kentucky,  settled  where  the  town 
of  Felicity  now  stands.  He  also  preached  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  this  newly-settled  territory.  In  1798  Rev. 
George  Brown  formed  a  small  class  at  the  mouth  of 
Bullskin,  and  appointed  William  Fee  and  Adam  Simmons 
class-leaders.  This  class,  however,  was  soon  dissolved  by 
the  removal  of  its  members  to  other  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. By  this  means  the  leaven  spread  far  and  wide. 
In  1799  Rev.  Lewis  Hunt  formed  a  class  at  James  Sar- 
gent's, and  appointed  John  Larkin  class-leader.  The 
log-cabin  of  brother  Sargent  was  just  twenty  feet  square. 
Here  brother  Hunt  held  a  quarterly  meeting.  The 
house  was  large  enough  to  seat  comfortably  all  who 
attended,  except  on  the  Sabbath,  when  a  few  were  com- 
pelled to  sit  outside  the  door.  At  this  period  it  was  not 
uncommon  for  persons  to  travel  twenty  or  thirty  miles  on 
horseback  to  attend  a  meeting  of  this  character.  At 
that  time  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  very  precious;  and 
men  and  women  were  known  to  walk  once  each  week  five 
and  six  miles  to  attend  class  meetings,  and  the  same  dis- 
tance at  night  to  attend  a  prayer  meeting.  In  a  dark 
night  the  hickory-bark  fagots  were  used,  to  give  them 
light  along  the  newly-blazed  pathway.  Tin  and  glass 
lanterns  were  not  known  in  the  backwoods  at  that  day. 
The  preaching-places  were  then  in  small  cabins,  which 


MY    SECOND    CIRCUIT.  491 

generally  contained  two  beds,  the  cooking  utensils,  furni- 
ture, husband,  wife,  and  children,  etc.  It  was  the  almost 
universal  custom,  in  those  days,  during  the  summer,  for 
the  men  to  come  to  meeting  in  their  shirt-sleeves  and 
with  bare  feet.  The  women,  if  they  had  shoes  and 
stockings,  carried  them  in  their  hand  till  they  came  near 
the  place  of  meeting,  and  then  halted  and  put  them  on, 
and  wore  them  during  divine  service;  but  as  soon  as 
meeting  closed,  and  they  started  for  their  homes,  they 
took  off  their  sandals  and  returned  as  light-footed  and 
more  joyfvl-heartcd  than  when  they  came.  The  health 
of  brother  Hunt  failed,  and  there  was  no  more  preach- 
ing on  the  circuit  by  the  traveling  preachers  for  some 
time. 

In  the  fall  of  1801  Rev.  Benjamin  Lakin  was  sent 
over  the  Ohio  river  from  Kentucky,  to  "spy  out  the 
land,  and  from  personal  observation  to  make  a  report  to 
the  next  annual  conference. "  He  traveled  as  far  as 
Abner  Leonard's,  near  Lebanon,  and  on  his  return  to 
Kentucky  made  a  favorable  report  as  to  the  prospects, 
although  the  number  of  members  was  small.  The  next 
year,  which  was  1802,  Rev.  Elisha  Bowman  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  Miami  circuit.  During  the  administra- 
tion of  brother  Bowman  many  were  added  to  the  Church. 
In  1804  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Sale  and  Rev 
Joseph  Oglesby.  During  this  year  a  quarterly  meeting 
was  held  at  John  Prather's.  Bishop  M'Kendree  was 
then  presiding  elder  of  the  district.  On  Saturday 
preaching  was  held  in  a  grove  adjoining  the  house. 
On  Sunday  morning,  in  love-feast,  the  Lord  rained 
down  righteousness  upon  his  people.  At  11  o'clock 
Bishop  M'Kendree  preached  in  the  house  and  John  Sale 
in  the  barn  at  the  same  time.  The  power  of  God  fell  on 
the  people,  and  some  were  prostrated  and  cried  to  God 
for  mercy,  and  some  found  peace  in  believing.     Bishop 


492         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

M'Kendree  fell  prostrate  under  the  mighty  power  and 
glory  of  God  also.  A  number  fled  out  of  the  house,  but 
fell  in  the  yard,  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy.  As  the 
preaching  in  the  barn  was  over  at  the  same  time,  the  two 
congregations  met  in  the  yard.  The  Lord  then  made 
bare  his  holy  arm  in  the  sight  of  all  the  people;  sinners 
were  cut  to  the  heart;  many  fell  down  under  the  mighty 
power  of  God,  and  cried  out,  "Men  and  brethren,  what 
shall  we  do?''  It  was  a  memorable  day,  such  as  had 
never  been  witnessed  in  all  that  region  of  country  be- 
fore. Among  the  number  of  converts  on  that  occasion 
was  Rev.  George  C.  Light.  Bishop  M'Kendree  was 
often  heard  to  say  that,  in  all  his  previous  travels,  he 
had  never  witnessed  so  remarkable  a  display  of  converting 
power. 

At  this  period  all  of  Clermont  county  was  included  in 
old  Miami  circuit,  which  was  first  organized  in  1798. 
In  the  year  1805  Hopewell  meeting-house  was  erected. 
It  was  built  of  hewed  logs,  with  a  small  gallery,  and  was 
the  first  church  edifice  erected  on  the  Miami  circuit. 
The  first  quarterly  meeting  held  in  this  new  church  was 
attended  by  Rev.  William  Burke,  Rev.  John  Sale,  Rev. 
John  Meek,  and  brother  Amos.  It  was  a  time  of  power 
and  glory,  and  many  were  converted  and  added  to  the 
Church.  Hopewell  meeting-house  was  occupied  as  a 
regular  preaching-place  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and 
at  length  it  became  so  much  dilapidated  and  inconven- 
ient that  the  society  resolved  to  abandon  it  and  erect  a 
new  one  in  the  town  of  Felicity.  The  old  log  house  was 
still  standing  when  I  traveled  on  White  Oak  circuit.  I 
used  to  visit  it  frequently  alone,  enter  the  old  pulpit, 
and  pray  to  God  that  the  mantle  of  those  holy  men  of 
God,  tnat  were  so  successful  in  preaching  Christ  in  that 
sacred  desk,  might  rest  upon  me.  From  such  seasons 
of  communion  with  the  good  and  holy  I  always  derived 


MY     SECOND    CIRCUIT.  493 

new  courage  and  strength  to  prosecute  my  itinerant  la- 
bors where  so  much  good  seed  had  already  been  sown. 

White  Oak  circuit  was  formed  out  of  the  old  Miami 
circuit.  The  Minutes  of  the  old  Miami  circuit  go  back 
to  1802.  The  first  list  of  official  members  is  recorded 
at  a  quarterly  meeting  held  at  Abner  Leonard's;  Novem- 
ber 9,  1805 — John  Sale,  presiding  elder;  Benjamin  La- 
kin,  Joshua  Riggin,  circuit  preachers.  Local  preachers 
present,  James  Ward,  Abner  Leonard,  Joseph  Joslin, 
Ezekiel  Dimmitt.     Brother  James  Scofield,  class-leader. 

On  July  11,  1806,  at  a  quarterly  meeting  held  at  Fran- 
cis M'Cormick's,  the  officiary  present  numbered  forty- 
eight. 

At  a  quarterly  meeting  held  at  Rev.  Philip  Gatch's, 
near  where  the  town  of  Milford  now  stands,  August  29, 
1807,  the  following  official  members  were  present :  John 
Sale,  presiding  elder;  Benjamin  Lakin,  John  Collins, 
circuit  preachers ;  Jesse  Justice,  Solomon  Langdon, 
Charles  Hardy,  elders. 

Local  deacons. — Philip  Gatch,  Francis  M'Corrnick, 
George  Brown,  Arball  Walker,  Levi  Rogers,  Wm.  Lynes, 
Abner  Leonard,  Danford  Weatherby,  John  Langdon, 
Daniel  Duvall. 

Local  preachers. — William  M'Mahon,  Wm.  Whitaker, 
Henry  Fisher,  James  Ward,  Joseph  Joslin,  John  Clark, 
Labin  Braziers. 

Exhorters. — Joshua  Sargent,  Elijah  Fee,  Geo.  Swing, 
Thomas  Page,  Ezekiel  Dimmitt,  Richard  Doughty,  Peter 
M'Clain,  Urial  Ward,  Robert  Richards,  Isaac  Snyder, 
James  Heath. 

List  of  stewards. — James  Sargent,  Jonathan  Tullis, 
Ambrose  Ransome,  Joseph  Dole. 

Leaders. — Philip  Hill,  James  Thustin,  John  Davis, 
Stephen  Stevinson,  Ezekiel  Hall,  Isaac  Vaneton,  Benja- 
min Clarke,  George  Mole,  John  M'Collom,  John  Drum- 


494      foot-prints   or  AN  itinerant. 

mond,  John  Sargent,  Thomas  Marsh,  James  Sargent,  jr., 
Samuel  Leninion,  Xathan  Laycock,  Amos  Smith,  Amos 
Tullis,  James  Garland,  Isaac  Merritt,  Jacob  Joslin,  Ja- 
cob Snyder,  Hugh  M'Kibben,  Thaddeus  Handford,  Aaron 
Burdsell,  Thomas  Fee,  Absalom  Day,  Hezekiah  Shaw. 

The  following  persons  were  admitted  on  trial  as  ex- 
horters:  William  Winans,  (now  Doctor  Winans,  of  the 
Church  South,)  George  Meal,  John  Willson,  Corneliua 
Swim,  Thomas  Clarke.  Francis  MTormick  was  recom- 
mended to  the  annual  conference  as  a  traveling  preacher. 

If  the  reader  will  take  the  trouble  of  adding  up  this 
official  list,  he  will  find  it  contains  a  much  larger  number 
than  some  of  our  annual  conferences  at  the  present  time. 
The  quarterly  meetings  in  those  days  of  primitive  Meth- 
odism in  southern  Ohio,  were  always  occasions  of  un- 
usual interest. 

In  1808,  at  the  same  place,  Rev.  William  Winans  was 
licensed  to  preach.  White  Oak  circuit  was  organized  in 
1808,  and  Rev.  David  Young  appointed  preacher  in 
charge.  The  standard  of  piety  was  always  high,  and 
consequently  the  circuit  prospered  greatly.  Within  its 
boundaries  God  raised  up  many  able  ministers,  among 
whom  were  Rev.  Walter  Griffith  and  Rev.  G.  C.  Light. 
These  devoted  men  commenced  their  ministry  in  1809, 
according  to  the  record  on  the  Stewards'  book  for  that 
circuit — Rev.  Absalom  Fox,  1821.  One  thing  which,  no 
doubt,  contributed  much  to  keep  alive  religion  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people  of  God,  was  their  annual  camp 
meetings.  The  first  one  on  record  was  held  near  Jacob 
Constant's,  on  Indian  creek,  and  another  near  Francis 
M'Cormick's,  in  1820 — Francis  Langdon,  presiding  elder, 
and  Rev.  William  J.  Thompson,  circuit  preacher.  In 
1821  a  union  camp  meeting  was  held  on  the  east  fork  of 
the  Little  Miami,  near  Milford,  on  the  first  of  June,  and 
another  on  the  16th  of  August,   on   Indian   creek.     In 


MY    SECOND     CIRCUIT.  495 

the  year  1822  a  camp  meeting  was  held  near  Benjamin 
Penn's,  on  Indian  creek.  Subsequently  a  grove  was 
selected  immediately  above  tbe  house  of  brother  Gregg, 
at  Indian  Springs,  as  the  most  suitable  place  for  holding 
their  annual  encampment.  Persons  would  frequently 
travel  on  horseback  thirty  or  forty  miles  to  attend  these 
meetings  on  White  Oak  circuit.  Almost  every  year  some 
of  the  ablest  preachers  from  the  Kentucky  conference 
came  over  to  lend  a  helping  hand.  A  number  of  years 
before  I  entered  the  ministry  I  attended  two  or  three  of 
those  meetings.  The  last  one  that  I  attended  was  when 
Rev.  Arthur  W.  Elliott  was  preacher  in  charge.  0, 
that  was  a  precious  season  never  to  be  forgotten  !  Hun- 
dreds were  awakened  and  converted,  and  among  the 
number  Rev.  Zachariah  Wharton,  of  the  Cincinnati  con- 
ference. Many  that  attended  that  meeting  are  now 
numbered  among  the  redeemed  ones  in  a  better  world. 

While  traveling  on  West  Union  circuit,  Rev.  John  A. 
Baughman  and  myself  attended  one  of  those  annual 
gatherings.  .  At  that  meeting  Dr.  Durbin,  Rev.  William 
B.  Christie,  Rev.  Joseph  M.  Trimble,  Rev.  Henry  B. 
Bascom,  Rev.  John  Collins,  and  many  other  bright  and 
shining  lights,  preached  with  great  power  and  efficiency. 
In  1837  I  was  appointed  to  White  Oak  circuit  as  the  jun- 
ior preacher.  On  leaving  Ripley,  Mrs.  Mc,  an  old  ac- 
quaintance, whose  parents  resided  in  the  bounds  of  that 
circuit,  remarked  to  me  as  follows:  "Now,  brother 
Mack,  in  going  around  your  circuit,  be  careful  not  to 
make  any  remarks  about  any  one  that  you  may  see  at  any 
one  of  your  appointments.' '  I  asked  the  reason  why. 
She  replied,  "  They  are  nearly  all  closely  related  to  each 
other  by  kindred  ties."  I  found  this  strikingly  true — 
the  Greggs,  Penns,  Pigmans,  Sargents,  Buchanans,  La- 
kins,  Richardses,  Goodwins,  Griffiths,  Simmonses,  and 
Pees  had  a  representative  at  almost  every  appointment. 


496  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

Thank  God!  the  " glory  has  not  departed  from  White 
Oak  circuit."  May  it  prosper  for  a  long  time  to  come  : 
Amen. 

I  will  now  close  this  trip  along  the  borders  of  my 
second  circuit,  by  introducing  an  autograph  letter  from 
Rev.  John  Meek,  who  now  lives  in  Felicity.  It  will,  no 
doubt,  be  read  with  much  satisfaction  by  thousands  in 
southern  Ohio  and  elsewhere  : 

"In  the  fall  of  1804  our  conference,  I  believe,  was 
held  at  brother  Griffith's,  in  Kentucky.  The  bishop 
did  not  get  there.  Rev.  William  M'Kendree  was  elected 
president  of  the  conference  during  the  session.  When 
it  was  announced  that  he  was  the  choice  of  the  brethren, 
as  chairman  of  the  conference,  he  arose,  and,  in  a  flood 
of  tears,  expressed  his  deep  sense  of  obligation  to  his 
brethren  for  the  confidence  they  had  placed  in  him,  and 
begged  their  indulgence,  and  also  their  fervent  supplica- 
tion to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  that  he  might  be 
sustained.  And,  indeed,  there  appeared  to  be  but  one 
feeling  to  pervade  the  whole,  pure  friendship ;  for  here, 
let  me  say,  in  those  days  of  suffering  and  of  toil,  the 
blessed  law  of  kindness  was  the  governing  principle. 
And,  verily,  we  had  a  blessed  season  of  the  Divine  pres- 
ence ;  for  the  God  of  the  wilderness  was  with  us  of  a 
truth. 

"Our  beloved  M'Kendree  presided  with  great  ability; 
and  I  believe  I  am  correct  when  I  say  that  the  preachers 
seldom,  if  ever,  received  their  appointments  with  a  bet- 
ter state  of  feeling,  or  went  more  cheerfully  to  their 
different  fields  of  labor.  My  name  stood  for  Miami  cir- 
cuit, and  Rev.  Abraham  Amos  for  my  colleague.  We 
started  immediately  to  our  new  field  of  labor,  and  I  soon 
round  that  I  was  much  favored  in  the  character  of  my 
fellow-laborer.  He  was  a  man  much  devoted  to  God,  a 
faithful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.     A  divine  power  gen- 


MY     SECOND    CIRCUIT.  497 

orally  attended  his  ministry.  He  was  truly  a  'son  of 
thunder/  We  spent  a  happy  year  together  in  mutual 
labor  and  toil. 

"Our  field  of  operation  embraced  the  following  bound- 
aries, namely:  The  beginning  point  was  at  Cincinnati. 
Here  we  preached  in  a  yellow  frame  house,  that  was 
rented  by  the  society  in  town  for  a  meeting-house. 
From  Cincinnati  we  made  our  way  around  the  circuit,  up 
the  Ohio  river  to  Columbia;  from  thence  to  Dunham's 
Town — Bethel — and  "Williamsburg,  and  through  the  set- 
tlement of  Philip  Gratch,  and  on  through  that  region 
of  country  to  where  the  town  of  Xenia  now  proudly 
stands,  till  we  arrived  at  Boggues's,  high  up  on  the  Little 
Miami  river.  From  Boggues's  we  changed  our  route 
from  said  river,  through  a  lonesome  wilderness,  following 
Indian  trails,  to  the  settlement  of  a  brother  Clarke,  whose 
house  was  a  preaching-place,  about  two  miles  from  where 
the  beautiful  town  of  Urbana  now  stands;  and  from 
Clarke's  we  traveled  down  Mad  river  to  where  it  emptied 
its  crystal  waters  into  the  Great  Miami  river.  Here  was 
a  preaching-place  in  the  town  of  Dayton,  which  was  then 
composed  of  but  few  buildings,  the  main  portion  of 
tvhich  were  huddled  near  the  junction  of  the  two  rivers, 
and  a  few  small  houses  scattered  about  among  the  shrub- 
bery through  the  bottoms,  among  which  was  our  meet- 
ing-house, which  was  a  one-story  house,  built  of  round 
logs,  without  chinking  or  daubing,  as  we  then  called  it. 
I  believe  the  house  properly  belonged  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Their  minister  was  by  the  name  of  Welch,  and 
t  believe  he  was  a  good-natured,  clever  kind  of  a  man. 
Here  were  but  a  few  members  in  Church-fellowship,  and 
some  of  them  very  cold  in  religion.  From  Dayton  we 
continued  our  course  down  the  Miami  river,  by  the  way 
of  Lebanon,  and  through  the  town  of  Reading,  down 
Mill  creek  to  Cincinnati.  The  foregoing  was  our  field 
42 


498         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

of  labor.  When  we  first  came  to  it,  it  was  then  a  four 
weeks'  circuit,  without  any  rest  time,  except  when 
asleep. 

"We  soon  heard  the  Macedonian  cry,  l Come  over  and 
help  us  !'  We  obeyed  the  call,  and  commenced  enlarg 
ing  our  borders,  and  soon  found  ourselves  at  work  on  a 
six  weeks'  circuit.  Rev.  William  Burke,  who  was  yet 
our  presiding  elder — a  faithful  watchman  on  the  walls  of 
our  beloved  Zion — sent  to  our  help  my  former  colleague, 
brother  William  Patterson.  We  '  thanked  God,  and  took 
courage.'  Let  it  here  be  stated,  we  did  not  enlarge  our 
circuit  in  order  to  get  a  week  to  rest,  that  we  might  read 
and  study,  and  thereby  gain  knowledge,  but  that  we 
might  hunt  up  the  '  wandering  sheep  in  the  wilder- 
ness.' Blessed  be  God!  we  searched  not  in  vain;  and, 
on  finding  them  in  their  scattered  settlements,  they 
would  bid  us  welcome  to  their  cabins  with,  '  Come  in, 
thou  blessed  of  the  Lord,  come  in!'  0,  sirs,  those  were 
days  of  no  ordinary  delight  !  and,  though  I  am  now 
ranked  among  the  old  men  of  the  conference,  yet,  some- 
times, when  I  look  back  to  those  days,  and  think  how 
wonderfully  the  Lord  supported  and  blessed  me,  I  feel 
something  of  the  same  flame  of  zeal  that  then  warmed 
my  youthful  heart. 

"We  were  permitted  to  witness  some  gracious  displays 
of  Divine  grace  through  the  summer  of  1805.  I  can 
recollect  but  very  few  names  of  persons  at  whose  houses, 
or  settlements,  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  was  pleased 
to  revive  his  work.  I  will,  however,  state  a  few  instan- 
ces: At  Clarke's,  on  Mad  river,  there  was  a  gracious 
work.  A  number  of  careless  and  hardened  sinners  were 
powerfully  awakened,  and,  I  believe,  soundly  converted 
to  God.  At  one  appointment  at  that  house,  during  the 
revival,  I  received  into  the  Church  fifteen  names  on  pro- 
bation, which  was  very  encouraging  indeed  in  that  then 


MY    SECOND    CIRCUIT.  499 

thinly-settled  part  of  the  world;    for  it  was  the  upper 
white  settlement,  but  one,  on  Mad  river  at  that  time. 

11  At  our  next  appointment  below,  at  Ross's,  there  was  a 
good  work  of  grace,  which  was  preceded  by  rather  a 
singular  circumstance.  At  the  time  of  one  of  our  visits 
at  that  appointment,  there  were  two  ladies  there  on  a 
visit  from  Chillicothe,  one  married  and  the  other 
single  j  one  of  them  very  gay  and  fond  of  the  fash- 
ions of  the  times.  Some  time  in  the  after  part  of  the 
day — the  family  were  mostly  absent — the  two  ladies 
above-named  and  the  preacher  were  engaged  in  a  conver- 
sation on  different  subjects.  The  conversation  was  soon 
changed;  the  preacher  was  requested  to  preach  them  a 
sermon;  the  request  was  complied  with.  The  text  was 
Luke  xii,  32  :  'Fear  not,  little  nock;  for  it  is  your  Fath- 
er's good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom.'  The  Spirit 
of  God  directed  the  word  to  the  proud  heart  of  Mrs.  P. 
She  trembled,  wept,  and,  in  the  anguish  of  her  soul, 
pleaded  for  pardon.  This  small  congregation  was  dis- 
missed for  that  time.  Meeting  was  appointed  for  next 
evening  at  the  same  place.  The  people  met,  divine  service 
commenced;  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  present  to  heal. 
The  above-named  lady,  deeply  wounded,  fell  under  the 
mighty  power  of  G-od,  and  cried  mightily  to  him  for  sal- 
vation; and  it  was  not  long  till  the  Lord  appeared  and  set 
her  soul  at  liberty,  and  gave  her  to  rejoice  in  his  love. 
From  that  time  we  had  a  blessed  work  in  that  settlement. 
We  appointed  a  two-days'  meeting  in  Cincinnati.  Rev. 
John  Collins,  then  in  the  prime  of  life,  came  to  our  help, 
with  the  sound  of  his  Master's  feet  behind  him.  We 
had  a  comfortable  time  on  Saturday.  We  appointed  a 
love-feast  meeting  on  Sabbath  morning,  the  first  meeting 
of  the  kind  that  was  ever  held  in  Cincinnati.  Our  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  court-house ;  we  met,  to  hold  love- 
feast,  in  the  '  grand-jury  room.'     Our  blessed  Savior  met 


500         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AX    ITINERANT 

with  us  of  a  truth,  and  made  the  hearts  of  his  people  to 
rejoice  in  his  love.  The  voice  of  triumph  was  heard  by 
the  people  out  of  doors  and  in  the  streets.  This  was 
something  new  in  Cincinnati.  They  rushed  up  stairs, 
burst  open  the  door,  to  see  what  it  all  meant,  and  lo! 
they  found  a  few  faithful  followers  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
rejoicing  in  hope  of  heaven,  and  also  of  better  days  in 
Cincinnati. 

UI  believe  the  good  seed  that  was  sowed  in  Cincinnati, 
in  those  days  of  toil  and  struggle,  did  not  perish.  31ay 
the  Lord  still  carry  on  his  own  glorious  work ! 

••A  meeting-house  was  built  during  that  year  in  Cler- 
mont county,  I  think  not  far  from  where  Felicity  now 
stands.  They  called  it  Hopewell.  At  the  dedication 
the  power  of  the  Lord  was  present  in  the  assembly,  and 
many  stout-hearted  sinners  were  made  to  yield  to  the 
spirit  of  Divine  truth.  The  cry  for  mercy  was  heard 
from  many  a  bleeding  heart,  and  souls  were  enabled  to 
rejoice  in  redemption  through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
Revs.  M'Kendree  and  Burke  were  at  the  meeting,  and 
preached  in  the  '  power  and  demonstration  of  the  Spirit.' 
On  Sabbath  M'Kendree  preached  from  2  Cor.  iii,  18  : 
'But  we  all,  with  open  face  beholding  as  in  a  glass  the 
glory  of  the  Lord,  are  changed  into  the  same  image  from 
glory  to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.' 
Brother  Burke  followed,  and  preached  from  the  17th 
verse  of  the  same  chapter:  'Now  the  Lord  is  that  Spirit, 
and  where  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  there  is  liberty.' 
The  Lord  attended,  and  sinners  fell  under  his  saving 
power  as  men  slain  in  battle.  Truly  the  Lord  made  us 
to  rejoice  in  the  wilderness;  our  cup  run  over.  Glory 
be  to  God !     We  had  a  rich  harvest. 

•■  As  I  write  other  scenes  of  a  like  nature  are  presented 
to  my  recollection.  To  tell  you  all  that  I  now  could  call 
to  memory,  would  too  far  exceed  my  intended  limits,  and 


MY    SECOND    CIRCUIT.  501 

I  fear  your  readers  would  become  weary.  But,  su*r 
rounded  with  all  those  Divine  visitations,  we  had  some 
few  scenes  to  pass  through  which  answered  for  a  kind  of 
offset.  I  presume  it  is  generally  the  fact,  that  the  first 
settlers  in  a  new  country  are  made  up  of  every  variety  of 
character,  at  least  it  appeared  a  good  deal  like  it  when 
we  first  came  out  of  the  Miami  circuit.  Take  one  case 
out  of  the  many :  On  my  first  round  I  arrived  at  one  of 
our  preaching-places.  I  soon  discovered  a  very  striking 
resemblance  of  matters  and  things  in  the  house  and  out 
of  doors.  My  conviction  was  I  should  have  use  for  all 
the  fortitude  I  could  summon  in  order  to  manage  myself 
any  how  tolerably.  I  made  myself  as  happy  as  my  situ- 
ation would  admit  for  the  night.  On  the  next  day  the 
people  collected  to  hear  the  new  preacher.  After  divine 
service  was  brought  to  a  close,  and  the  people  dispersed, 
the  table  was  set  for  dinner.  We  had  a  large  dish  of 
boiled  pork  and  turnips  swimming  in  broth.  By  the  time 
we  were  fairly  seated,  and  about  to  commence  eating,  a 
large  family  dog,  not  willing  to  wait  till  his  turn  should 
come,  without  any  invitation,  mounted  and  took  Jus 
place  on  the  table;  and,  unfortunately  for  me,  he  care- 
lessly set  one  foot  on  the  side  of  the  above-named  dish 
of  pork  and  turnips,  and  threw  a  quantity  of  the  broth 
out,  which  ran  into  my  lap  plentifully.  This,  for  a  mo- 
ment, put  me  a  little  out  of  patience ;  but  when  I  dis- 
covered that  some  of  the  folks  were  quite  diverted  with 
the  amusing  adventure  of  my  new  friend,  I  too  indulged 
i'/?,  a  smile,  and  let  it  go  for  what  it  was  worth.  I  took 
my  dinner,  got  my  horse,  mounted,  and  went  on  my  way. 
u  Yours,  in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ, 

"John  Meek." 


502  FOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

CHAPTER  LXXVil. 

herron's  seminary. 

I  formed  an  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Joseph  Herron,  A 
M.,  the  Principal  of  Herron's  Seminary,  located  between 
"Walnut  and  Vine,  on  Seventh-street,  in  Cincinnati,  in  the 
year  1838.  I  was  then  the  pastor  of  old  M'Kendree 
Chapel,  in  the  upper  part  of  Cincinnati,  then  called  Ful- 
ton township.  As  Mr.  Herron  has  been  a  very  successful 
educator  of  youth,  I  will  sketch  his  personal  history  for  a 
number  of  years  past.  Mr.  H.  spent  four  years  of  his 
early  life  in  a  printing  office  with  his  brothers,  but  find- 
ing it  did  not  agree  with  his  health,  concluded  to  aban- 
don types  at  once  and  forever.  He  was  then  only  seven- 
teen years  of  age.  In  the  fall  of  1825,  at  the  solicita- 
tion of  many  warm  friends  in  New  Richmond,  Ohio,  he 
opened  a  select  school  for  young  ladies  and  gentlemen. 
He  taught  in  New  Richmond,  and  at  the  Franklin  school- 
house  in  the  vicinity,  for  three  years,  and,  although  quite 
young,  he  succeeded  well.  Here  he  commenced  his 
career  as  a  teacher  of  youth,  a  profession  in  which  he  has 
been  engaged  successfully,  with  the  approbation  and 
blessing  of  Heaven,  for  more  than  twenty-four  years.  In- 
deed, with  the  exception  of  six  years — from  1828  to  1834, 
during  which  period  he  was  engaged  in  study  and  busi- 
ness— his  life  has  been  entirely  devoted  to  the  instruction 
of  youth.  When  the  public  schools  were  fully  organized 
in  Cincinnati,  and  efficient  teachers  were  needed  to  carry 
them  on  successfully  and  place  them  on  a  solid  basis,  broth- 
er Herron  was  urged  to  become  one  of  the  teachers.  He 
occupied  this  position  for  three  years,  and  by  his  kind 
disposition  and  Christian  deportment,  together  with  a 
laudable  ambition  to  become  a  competent  and  useful  in- 


HEREON' S    SEMINARY.  503 

fitructor,  lie  was  universally  beloved  by  bis  pupils,  parents, 
and  tbe  Board  of  Trustees.  During  tbis  period  be  made 
many  warm  friends  in  Cincinnati,  among  wbom  were  Rev. 
Samuel  Lewis,  first  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools 
in  Obio,  Peyton  S.  Symmes,  Elam  P.  Langdon,  members  of 
tbe  Board  of  Public  Instruction.  When  tbe  Cincinnati 
College  was  reorganized  in  all  its  departments  of  colle- 
giate studies — medicine  and  law — Dr.  D.  Drake  and  Rev. 
Samuel  Lewis  waited  on  brotber  Herron  and  invited  bim 
to  become  a  member  of  the  faculty.  After  mature  delib- 
eration be  accepted  tbe  appointment,  and  entered  upon 
bis  new  duties  in  tbe  fall  of  1837,  where  be  remained  till 
the  College  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  January,  1845.  His 
department  in  the  College  was  always  crowded.  It  was 
here  that  he  laid  the  foundation  for  his  present  high 
reputation  as  a  professional  teacher.  After  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Cincinnati  College  he  was  requested  to  open  a 
private  seminary.  I  have  no  knowledge  of  any  private 
enterprise  that  has  succeeded  so  well,  and  it  certainly 
now  stands  at  the  head  of  our  private  literary  institutions 
in  the  west.  The  eleventh  annual  Catalogue,  just  pub- 
lished, presents  the  Seminary  in  a  highly-prosperous  state. 
Over  two  hundred  pupils  have  been  in  attendance  for  the 
past  year.  Of  these  one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  were 
from  Ohio,  twelve  from  Kentucky,  one  from  France, 
one  from  New  York,  one  from  Arkansas,  one  from  Mary- 
land, and  one  from  Texas.  An  indisputable  testimony 
in  favor  of  tbe  institution  is  presented  in  tbe  fact,  that 
in  Cincinnati,  where  it  is  best  known,  the  vast  majority, 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  out  of  two  hundred  and 
four,  of  its  pupils  reside.  The  Faculty,  at  present,  is 
composed  of  the  following  eflicient  teachers:  Joseph 
Herron,  A.  M.,  Principal,  Instructor  in  Natural  Philoso- 
phy, Physiology,  Anatomy,  Rhetoric,  and  Moral  Science; 
Charles  Aiken;  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  Lan- 


504         TOOT-PRINTS    OP    AN    ITINERANT. 

guages,  and  Yocal  Music;  Edward  Y.  Robbins,  A.  M., 
Professor  of  Mathematics,  English  Literature,  and  Elocu- 
tion; Paul  Schuster,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Modern  Lan- 
guages; William  H.  M'Reynolds,  A.  B.,  Assistant ;  Max- 
well P.  G-addis,  jr.,  B.  S.,  Professor  of  Natural  Science; 
Miss  Lucy  E.  Herron,  Assistant;  William  Thompson, 
Professor  of  Penmanship  and  Book-Keeping;  Louis 
Schwebel,  Professor  of  Drawing  and  Painting;  Mons.  J. 
Tosso,  Professor  of  Instrumental  Music. 

The  merits  of  this  Academy  for  the  instruction  of 
youth  in  the  various  branches  of  a  valuable  and  solid 
education,  and  for  preparing  them  for  a  career  of  useful- 
ness in  life,  is  too  well  known  to  require  comment  from 
us.  It  is  an  institution  of  long  standing,  and  since  its 
establishment  has  continued  to  increase  in  popular  esti- 
mation, till  its  reputation  has  reached  a  position  unsur- 
passed by  any  in  the  west. 

Mr.  Herron,  referring  to  the  character  of  his  model 
institution,  claims  that  the  government  is  strictly  pa- 
rental; that  it  is  designed  to  secure  attention  to  study, 
and  correctness  of  deportment,  not  so  much  by  the  en- 
forcement of  rigid  enactments,  as  by  cultivating  in  the 
student  a  taste  for  intellectual  pursuits  and  virtuous  hab- 
its. In  short,  moral  suasion,  and  the  influence  of  exam- 
ple, with  the  incitements  of  honorable  emulations,  are 
adopted  as  the  incentives  to  secure  the  correct  moral 
training  of  youth,  and  the  thorough  discipline  of  their 
intellectual  faculties.  The  excellence  of  the  graduates 
of  this  institution  thrown  out  upon  the  community  annu- 
ally, is  high  testimony  in  favor  of  its  merits. 

The  Seminary  is  provided  with  competent  scientific  ap- 
paratus, the  most  approved  and  latest  maps,  and  a  large 
and  admirably-selected  library.  In  fact,  every  thing  req- 
uisite to  scholarly  and  gentlemanly  attainments,  is  pro- 
vided, and  each  department  is  administered  by  thoroughly 


OHIO    WESLEYAN    FEMALE    COLLEGE  505 

competent  professors.  The  interest  manifested  by  the 
crowds  who  are  assembled  at  the  annual  examinations 
and  exhibitions  of  this  Seminary,  demonstrates  most 
clearly  how  highly  it  is  appreciated  by  the  citizens  of 
Cincinnati. 

I  have  been  personally  acquainted  with  Professor  Her- 
ron  for  nearly  eighteen  years.  He  was  connected  with 
Bethel  Chapel  as  trustee,  steward,  class-leader,  and  super- 
intendent of  the  Sabbath  school.  A  more  laborious,  up- 
right, and  devoted  Christian  I  have  never  met  in  any 
community.  During  my  connection  with  M'Kendree 
he  was  married  to  an  amiable  young  lady  belonging  to  my 
charge,  and  during  my  Agency  for  the  Wesleyan  Female 
College  I  was  a  member  of  his  family  for  more  than  nine 
months.  I  shall  never  forget  his  gentlemanly  deportment 
and  the  kindness  of  his  family  toward  me  in  times  of 
affliction  and  trial.  His  oldest  son  graduated  at  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University  with  honor,  and  is  now  a  traveling 
preacher  in  the  Cincinnati  conference.  May  it  be  my 
happy  lot  to  meet  them  all  in  heaven ! 

OHIO  WESLEYAN  FEMALE  COLLEGE. 

The  Ohio  Wesleyan  Female  College  in  Delaware  was 
established  in  the  spring  of  1853.  The  eligibility  of 
the  town  as  a  location  for  a  female  school  of  high  grade 
has  for  some  time  past  been  regarded  as  demonstrated. 
The  U niversity  established  in  Delaware  by  the  Methodists 
of  Ohio  twelve  years  ago  has  grown  up  to  be,  perhaps, 
the  largest  and  most  flourishing  Methodist  school  in  the 
world  Its  halls  have  only  been  open  to  young  men. 
We  still  have  needed  in  this  section  of  the  country  a 
similar  institution  for  the  education  of  the  daughters 
of  our  Church  and  our  state.  The  patrons  of  the  Uni- 
versity, who  have  sent  their  sons  from  beneath  the 
parental  roof,  would  be  glad,  if  possible,  to  educate  their 

48 


506  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

daughters  in  the  same  vicinity  with  their  sons;  and 
many  of  our  brethren  and  fellow-citizens  who  have  lo- 
cated in  Delaware  to  avail  themselves  of  the  educational 
facilities  afforded  by  the  University,  find  still  only  half 
their  families  provided  for  in  this  respect. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1853  it  became  evident  that 
the  time  to  move  in  this  matter  was  fully  come.  A 
delay  of  a  few  days  might  have  proved  fatal  to  our 
prospects  as  a  Church.  x\ccordingly  negotiations  were 
opened  and  a  contract  entered  into  with  William  Little, 
Esq.,  for  his  homestead  grounds,  comprising  the  choicest 
portions  of  a  large  estate  lying  within  the  limits  of  the 
corporation  at  the  western  head  of  the  principal  cross- 
street,  and  easily  accessible  from  all  parts  of  the  town. 
The  hand  of  nature  has  made  the  location  desirable  by 
diversifying  it  with  hill  and  vale,  running  streams  of 
health-giving,  forests  and  flowers.  To  this  the  hand 
of  art  has  added  all  the  conveniences  and  advantages 
at  the  command  of  abundant  means  and  refined  taste — 
gardens,  shrubbery,  vines,  fruit-trees,  summer-houses,  or- 
namental walks,  bowers,  and  shady  seats.  The  Trustees 
purchased,  in  all,  about  seven  acres.  The  spacious  stone 
mansion  is  situated  in  the  center  of  this  tract,  in  a  com- 
manding position,  twenty-five  feet  higher  than  the 
grounds  of  the  University — the  two  institutions  stand- 
ing fronting  each  other  in  full  view,  the  town  lying 
in  the  valley  between.  By  the  terms  of  the  contract 
the  grounds  are  to  be  surrounded  on  every  side  with  a 
wide  street,  and  the  whole  is  to  be  inclosed  by  the  Trus- 
tees with  an  osage  hedge  to  protect  from  all  intrusion. 
The  beautiful  grounds  on  the  north-west  offer  to  the 
students  every  inducement  for  active  and  invigorating 
exercise;  and  the  cultivated  gardens  to  the  east  and 
south  give  ample  scope  for  gentler  amusements.  Xear 
the  grounds  are  several   chalybeate   as   well    as   sulphur 


O  H  I 0    WESLEY  A  N     F I  M  A  L  E    COLLEGE.        507 

springs,  some  of  which  are  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  the 
far-famed  spring  on  the  grounds  of  the  University.  A 
few  extracts  from  the  "Articles  of  Association'*  are  here 
given : 

Article  I.  This  institution  shall  be  called  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  Female  College,  etc. 

Art.  II.  The  College  shall  ever  he  conducted  on  the 
most  liberal  principles,  accessible  to  all  religious  de- 
nominations, and  open  for  the  education  of  young  ladies 
in  general,  but  shall  ever  be  under  the  supervision  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Ohio. 

Art.  VI.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees to  proffer  to  the  Xorth  Ohio  conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  at  the  next  session  of  said 
conference,  the  general  supervision  and  patronage  of  this 
institution,  and  also  the  right  to  exercise  general  vis- 
itorial  powers  over  the  College,  etc.;  provided,  nothing 
in  said  proffer  contained  shall  exclude  the  other  con- 
ferences in  Ohio,  or  conferences  which  may  hereafter  be 
formed  out  of  the  existing  conferences  of  said  Church 
in  Ohio,  from  participating  with  said  Xorth  Ohio  con- 
ference in  the  supervision,  patronage,  and  rights  in  such 
a  manner  as  may  be  agreed  on  among  said  conferences; 
and,  provided,  further,  that  nothing  in  said  proffer  con- 
tained shall  ever  authorize  the  removal  of  said  College 
from  a  location  in  the  town  of  Delaware,  and  in  said 
county,  etc. 

Art.  IX.  If  the  conference  or  conferences  patronizing 
this  College  and  the  conferences  patronizing  the  Ohio 
Wesleyan  University  located  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  shall, 
at  any  future  time,  recommend  the  union  of  the  two 
institutions,  so  far  as  the  same  can  legally  be  effected, 
then  the  Trustees  of  that  College  shall  proceed  to  take 
such  steps  as  may  be  legal  and  necessary  to  accomplish 
it,  etc. 


560  I  I -PRINTS     01     AN     II  INF.  RANT. 

5  flourishing  institution  was  opened  on  the  Sth  of 
September.  >■"■..  supervision  of  Rev.  0.   Fa- 

vilie.  A.  M.,  and  his   amiable  lad  ia  H.    Fa- 

ville.  al  nuuil  tendance   the   collegiate 

year  was  one  hundred  r  tiro 

hundred  and  two,  an  increase  of  over  I 

he  an:  Vacation* — The  collegiate  year  is  di- 
vided into  thre  orresponding  with  those  of 
the  Ohi:  TTes-eyan  University. 

Rev.  Oran  Faville,  in  consequence  of  continued  iil- 
health,  bas  been  compelled  to  resign,  and  Rev.  0.  I' 
Burritt,  of  Oneida  conference;  elected  in  his  place. 
Mr.  Burritt  comes  to  Ohio  well  recommended  as  a  man  of 
undoubted  scbolarsbip  and  skillful  as  a  teacher,  and  of 
fine  tact  as  a  disciplinarian.  The  other  members  of  the 
Faculty  are  h:_  ken  all        May  the  halls  of 

both  of  our  colleges  at  Delaware  be   annually  crowded 
with  faithful  students  of  both  sexea! 


CHAPTER    LXXYIII. 

L  Z  V  A  N     lNIYEESIIY. 

I  HATE  frequent".  s  flourishing  institution, 

and  take  great  pleasure  in  describing  it  to  my  readers. 

Fourteen  years  ag:.  Bays  B  kland,  D. 

D.,  Doctor  Elliott  and  myself  were  appointed  a  committee 
at  the  Ohio  conference,  then  holding  its  session  in  Urbana, 
t  Delaware,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  Sulphur 
Spring  property,  with  a  view  of  entertaining  the  proposition 
of  the  proprietor  and  citizens  in  regard  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  T '. .;•  .king  the  mansion-house,  located 
near  the  Springs,  as  a  College  building.  At  that  time  there 
were  no  railroads  in  Ohio,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  n  ilea 


OHIO    WESLEYAN    UNIVERSITY.  509 

of  the  Little  Miami,  extending  from  Cincinnati  to  Milford. 
Our  old  friend,  Rev.  Adam  Poe,  now  one  of  the  Book 
Agents,  having  been  delegated  by  the  North  Ohio  confer- 
ence to  attend  the  session  of  the  Ohio  conference,  for  the 
purpose  of  presenting  the  claims  of  Delaware  as  a  central 
and  desirable  location  for  a  University  in  Ohio,  took  us 
in  his  carriage,  and  we  wended  our  way  over  hill  and 
dale,  through  mud  and  rain,  to  Delaware.  On  our  arri- 
val we  were  kindly  received  and  entertained  by  Dr. 
Picket,  now  deceased,  whose  hospitalities  made  our  stay 
very  agreeable.  On  Sabbath  morning  the  Doctor  preach- 
ed an  admirable  sermon  in  the  old  brick  church,  now 
superseded  by  a  new  and  admirably-constructed  stone  one. 
The  pulpit  was  occupied  in  the  afternoon  by  ourself, 
whether  to  the  edification  of  any  one  we  know  not — cer- 
tainly not  to  the  preacher. 

We  walked  over  the  grounds  and  through  the  mansion, 
and  tasted  of  the  waters.  The  Doctor  quaffed  them  with 
a  relish  which  I  could  never  appreciate.  After  having 
made  all  the  examination  necessary  of  the  property,  and 
had  full  and  free  conversation  with  several  of  the  more 
prominent  citizens,  we  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
position  was  a  most  desirable  one,  and  the  offer  so  liberal 
on  behalf  of  the  citizens,  the  conference  would  be  blind 
to  its  educational  interests  if  it  did  not  accept  their  prop- 
osition. Early  on  the  morning  on  which  we  were  going 
to  make  our  return  trip  I  was  awakened  by  the  Doctor, 
who  exclaimed,  "  S.,  wake  up,  sir,  I  have  my  speech  ready 
for  the  conference;  just  listen."  When  he  was  satisfied 
I  was  awake  he  commenced,  and  after  giving  a  few 
thoughts  on  the  subject  of  education  in  general,  and  its 
importance  in  particular  to  the  Church,  and  making  some 
prophecies  which  at  that  time  were  thought  to  be  wild 
and  extravagant,  but  are  from  year  to  year  meeting  with 
a  literal  and  exact  fulfillment,  he  closed  by  a  description 


510         FOOT-PRINTS     UF    AX     ITINERANT. 

of  the  virtues  and  medical  qualities  of  the  white  sulphur 
waters.  Had  he  been  drinking  at  the  fountain  of  Heli- 
con, he  could  not  have  been  more  eloquent,  or,  as  subse- 
quent events  have  proven,  more  oracular. 

Having  returned  to  Urbana,  in  due  time  the  conference 
called  upon  the  Doctor  for  his  report,  and  repeating  what 
he  had  said  to  me  on  the  morning  alluded  to,  with  some 
additional  remarks  elicited  by  the  inspiring  amens  and 
pleasurable  emotions  exhibited  among  the  numerous 
warm-hearted  ministers  around  him,  the  conference,  after 
considerable  discussion,  appointed  a  board  of  commission, 
with  power  to  negotiate  a  transfer,  should  they,  in  their 
judgment,  deem  it  proper  to  do  so.  The  board  was  com- 
posed of  Revs.  Jacob  Young,  Charles  Elliott,  and  James 
B.  Finley.  The  Xorth  Ohio  conference  joined  in  the 
enterprise.  Agents  were  appointed  to  solicit  donations 
and  scholarships.  An  organization  was  effected,  the 
Board  of- Trustees  being  selected  from  the  bounds  of  the 
patronizing  conferences,  a  charter  obtained,  and  every 
regulation  adopted  to  lay  a  broad  and  strong  foundation 
for  a  University.  Till  then  but  little  had  been  done  by 
the  Church  for  the  promotion  of  education  in  Ohio.  We 
had  the  Xorwalk  Seminary,  Springfield  Academy  and 
Conference  High  School,  and  the  Worthington  Female 
Seminary;  but  we  had  no  college.  Augusta,  in  Ken- 
tucky, the  oldest  literary  institution  of  the  Church,  was 
then  in  its  decline.  Its  palmy  days  were  passed,  and  the 
idea  that  it  would  ever  afford  facilities  sufficient  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  great  and  growing  state  of  Ohio  was 
never  entertained.  It  was  the  alma  mater  of  many  of 
Ohio's  gifted  and  eloquent  sons  in  the  ministry,  who  live 
to  speak  of  its  praise,  and  drop  the  tear  of  sympathy 
upon  its  ashes. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Faculty  a  prepara- 
tory school  was  opened,  under  the  preceptorship  of  Rev 


OHIO    WES  LEY  AN    UNIVERSITY.  511 

Dr  Solomon  Howard,  now  the  popular  President  of  the 
old  Ohio  University.  The  Doctor  commenced,  I  am  in- 
formed, with  but  three  students;  notwithstanding,  he 
labored  on  in  hope.  In  the  autumn  of  1844  the  time 
arrived  for  the  organization  of  a  Faculty.  Every  eye  was 
turned  to  the  talented  and  much-beloved  Dr.  Thomson, 
at  that  time  editor  of  the  Ladies'  Repository.  Professor 
Johnson — now  Dr.  Johnson,  of  Dickinson  College — was 
appointed  Professor  of  Languages,  and  Vice-President  in 
charge  till  Dr.  Thomson  should  assume  his  place.  Pro- 
fessor Howard  was  appointed  Professor  of  Mathematics, 
and  Messrs.  "Williams  and  Dial  teachers  in  the  Grammar 
School.  Thus  matters  continued  till,  in  1846,  at  the  unani- 
mous request  of  the  Ohio  conference,  together  with  that 
of  the  North  Ohio,  Dr.  Thomson  entered  upon  the  post 
to  which  he  had  been  elected.  As  yet  the  institution 
was  without  endowment,  but  little  had  been  effected 
by  the  sale  of  scholarships,  and  difficulties  seemed  to 
frown  upon  the  enterprise,  but  the  men  who  were  called 
to  the  work  were  of  that  class  not  easily  discouraged. 
They  had  the  spirit  of  Methodist  preachers,  and  though 
they  had  not  taken  the  vow  of  poverty,  were,  notwith- 
standing, ready  to  meet  and  grapple  with  all  the  difficul- 
ties. They  went  to  work  without  endowment,  and  with 
little  patronage,  and  without  the  hope  of  fee  or  reward, 
except  what  they  looked  for  in  heaven;  and  against  hope 
they  toiled  in  hope  till  the  day  of  prosperity  dawned  upon 
their  labors.  And  now  what  has  been  wrought  through 
their  instrumentality?  Those  learned  and  pious  men, 
urged  on  by  the  love  of  God  and  the  welfare  of  the 
Church,  have  achieved  a  victory  over  obstacles  that  men 
of  the  world  would  have  been  deterred  from  encounter- 
ing, and  God  has  been  with  them;  and  now,  from  the 
Nebo  of  their  attainment,  they  can  see  the  vast  and  ex- 
uberant re.-ourccs  of  the   promised  land  spreading  every- 


512  FOOT -PRINTS     OF     AN     ITINERANT. 

where  around  them.  Instead  of  a  few  students  from  the 
immediate  vicinity,  they  now  behold  hundreds  crowding 
the  portals  of  their  beloved  Wesleyan  University  from 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  and  from  Maine  to 
Louisiana,  and  even  old  England,  we  find  names  upon 
their  catalogue.  Where  rose  but  one  edifice  solitary  and 
alone,  now,  in  large  and  beautiful  proportions,  with  all  the 
adornments  of  a  classic  architecture,  can  be  seen  two  others, 
one  of  which,  the  College  Hall,  occupying  the  center  of 
the  umbrageous  campus,  and  the  other,  the  Library  Hall, 
a  beautiful  edifice,  with  its  halls  and  alcoves,  and  orna- 
mented rotunda,  and  thousands  of  volumes  gathered  from 
the  literary  marts  of  the  old  world  and  new  world,  stand- 
ing by  its  side. 

The  following  minute  and  interesting  description  is 
from  the  pen  of  Professor  Merrick : 

First,  as  to  the  location  of  the  University.  The  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  state  falls  near  the  eastern  line 
of  Delaware  county,  very  nearly  due  east  from  the  Uni- 
versity. By  consulting  Fox  &  Hoyt's  Conference  Map,  it 
will  be  seen  that  the  University  stands  within  a  few  miles 
of  the  geopraphical  center  of  the  three  principal  patron- 
izing conferences.  This  is  an  important  circumstance. 
The  location  was  formerly  objected  to  by  some  on  account 
of  its  being  so  difficult  of  access;  but,  thanks  to  the  enter- 
prising public  that  has  built  our  railroads,  that  objection 
has  been  entirely  removed.  There  is,  perhaps,  not  an- 
other town  in  the  state  more  easily  reached  from  all  parts 
of  the  country  than  this. 

The  village  of  Delaware,  in  which  the  University  is 
located,  is  pleasantly  situated  upon  the  west  side  of  the 
Olentangy  river.  It  has  a  population  of  about  forty-one 
hundred,  and  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  as  is  seen 
in  the  fact  that  it  has  about  tripled  its  population  in  the 
last  ten  years.     It  contains  one  very  large  hotel,  and  two 


OHIO    WES  LEY  AN    UNIVERSITY.  513 

of  medium  size ;  several  extensive  commercial  blocks, 
and  an  unusual  proportion  of  pleasant  private  residences. 
There  are  several  mineral  springs,  sulphur  and  chalybeate, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  town,  the  most  noted  of  which  is 
the  White  Sulphur  Spring  upon  the  College  grounds. 
The  citizens,  as  a  class,  are  moral,  intelligent,  enterpris- 
ing, and  liberal.  If  there  are  exceptions,  where  are  there 
not  ?  Happy  the  community  in  which  the  exceptions  are 
not  upon  the  other  side. 

The  University  buildings,  which  have  already  become 
quite  imposing,  occupy  a  somewhat  elevated  position  in 
the  south-eastern  part  of  the  town.  The  College  campus 
contains  about  fifteen  acres,  has  a  beautifully-varied  sur- 
face, and  is  well  set  out  with  trees  and  shrubbery.  A 
thousand  or  fifteen  hundred  dollars  expended  in  grading, 
fencing,  and  other  needed  improvements,  would  make  it 
one  of  the  most  delightful  spots  in  the  country.  But  the 
present  state  of  the  College  finances  does  not  warrant  the 
expenditure.  By  the  way,  should  some  rich  and  liberal 
friend  of  the  University  be  casting  about  in  his  mind  for 
an  object  upon  which  to  bestow  a  portion  of  his  abund- 
ance, I  hardly  know  where  he  could  expend  it  to  better 
advantage  than  upon  the  University  grounds;  for  what  is 
so  constantly  present  to  the  eye  can  not  but  have  an  im- 
portant influence  upon  the  hundreds  of  young  men  who 
are  here  receiving  impressions  which  are  molding  their 
characters  for  life. 

The  three  main  edifices  stand  upon  elevated  ground  in 
the  south-eastern  part  of  the  town,  facing  to  the  west. 
They  are  all  of  the  same  style  of  architecture — Grecian 
Doric — and  all  four  stories  high,  including  the  basements. 
The  north  building,  as  yet  without  a  name,  is  the  one 
which  was  standing  upon  the  ground  at  the  time  the  site 
was  presented  by  the  citizens  of  Delaware  to  the  confer- 
ences     It  was  erected  under  the  supervision  of  Thomas 


514  FOOT -PRINTS     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

Powell,  Esq.,  the  principal  proprietor  of  the  "Spring 
property" — a  gentleman  of  excellent  taste,  and  who,  by 
the  way,  has  done,  and  is  still  doing  much  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  town.  It  has  a  front  of  sixty-two  feet, 
and  is  fifty-two  feet  in  depth.  It  is  universally  admired 
for  the  beauty  of  its  proportions  and  the  chasteness  of 
its  architecture.  Though  built  of  wood  it  is  a  very  firm 
structure,  and,  should  it  escape  destruction  by  fire,  will 
probably  stand  for  half  a  century  or  more.  It  was  not 
originally  planned  for  a  College  edifice;  still  it  answers 
the  purpose  very  well.  Let  us  enter  the  basement.  On 
the  north  side  will  be  found  the  recitation-room  of  the 
Normal  Department.  In  the  south-west  corner  is  the 
hall  of  the  Chrestomathian  Society,  about  to  be  ex- 
changed for  a  more  commodious  room  in  the  library 
building;  in  the  south-east  the  store-room  of  the  painter. 
One  turn  up  the  spiral  stairway  brings  us  into  a 
spacious  hall,  at  the  west  end  of  which  is  the  main  en- 
trance into  the  building.  On  the  right  of  the  entrance 
is  the  President's  private  room,  or  study;  about  which, 
were  I  to  yield  to  my  feelings,  I  should  say  some  pleas- 
ant things.  I  but  reiterate  what  is  public,  when  I  say 
that  in  two  respects,  at  least,  it  is  like  a  hive,  industry 
and  honey  are  there;  and  if  the  incorrigibly  wicked,  old 
and  young,  sometimes  find  the  sting,  who  will  complain  ? 
On  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall  is  the  study  and  reci- 
tation-room of  ourself,  which  for  convenience  and  pleas- 
antness satisfy  the  occupant.  In  the  story  above  Pro- 
fessors M'Cabe,  Williams,  and  Harris  have  their  studies, 
and  Professor  Williams  a  recitation-room.  Like  the 
rooms  in  the  story  below  all  are  pleasant  and  commodi- 
ous. A  story  higher  the  Principal  of  the  Normal  De- 
partment, Mr.  Ogden,  and  Tutors  Williams  and  O'Kane 
are  accommodated  with  private  rooms,  and  the  Zetagath- 
ian  and  Athenian  Societies  with  halls. 


OHIO     WESLEY  AN     UNIVERSITY.  515 

Thomson  Chapel  comes  next  in  order,  a  building  hon- 
ored by  its  name  and  no  dishonor  to  it.  In  the  east 
end  of  the  basement  is  a  spacious  lecture-room,  in  which 
Professor  Harris  grounds  his  pupils  in  the  principles  of 
Geology,  and  other  branches  of  natural  science.  In 
connection  with  the  lecture-room  there  is  a  laboratory  and 
a  small  room  for  chemical  tests  and  apparatus.  Adjoin- 
ing are  the  recitation  rooms  of  the  tutors.  In  the  story 
above  the  Professor  of  Mathematics  has  a  large  and 
beautiful  recitation-room,  with  two  small  rooms  attached. 
A  room  now  occupied  by  the  Missionary  Lyceum,  but  to 
be  fitted  up  for  the  Cabinet  of  Natural  History,  and  a 
room  for  the  philosophical  apparatus  completes  the  story. 
On  the  next  floor  is  the  audience-rooni,  eighty  feet  by 
fifty-two,  and  twenty-two  high.  This  is  well  adapted  to 
the  purposes  to  which  it  is  devoted,  and,  though  plain, 
is  not  devoid  of  beauty. 

The  Library  building,  which  bears  the  name  of  our 
liberal  friend  Sturges,  is  similar  in  external  appearance 
to  the  building  first  described,  though  a  little  larger. 
In  the  two  lower  stories  there  are  four  fine  halls  for  the 
use  of  the  literary  societies,  and  a  reading-room.  Each 
of  the  society  halls  in  the  lower  story  have  a  library- 
room  in  connection  with  them;  and  on  the  next  floor 
there  are  two  small  rooms,  one  for  the  use  of  the  auditor 
and  one  for  the  librarian.  The  library- room  occupies 
the  two  upper  stories;  is  sixty-four  feet  long,  fifty  wide, 
and  twenty-two  high,  exclusive  of  the  dome.  It  is  fin- 
ished with  alcoves  upon  two  sides;  those  upon  the  lower 
floor  being  twelve  feet  deep,  and  those  in  the  gallery 
nine.  Of  this  room  we  think  we  may  safely  make  our 
boast.  It  certainly  reflects  much  credit  upon  our  very 
excellent  architect,  Morris  Cadwalader,  Esq.  Both  the 
building  and  the  chapel  are  very  solid  structures. 

Morris  Hall  is  the  beginning  of  a  boarding   house, 


516         FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN      ITINERANT. 

which,  for  the  want  of  funds,  remains  uncompleted. 
The  part  of  which  the  walls  are  up  is,  however,  finished ; 
is  two  stories  high,  and  contains  sixteen  rooms,  which 
are  now  occupied  by  as  many  students,  who  board 
themselves.  Here  is  another  fine  opportunity  for  some 
one  so  disposed  to  do  a  good  work.  Five  thousand 
dollars  might  here  be  profitably  expended.  A  few 
of  the  old  cottage  buildings  are  still  standing,  but  are 
not  worth  describing.  They  ought  to  be  replaced  by 
better. 

Faculty. — Rev.  Edward  Thomson,  D.  D.,  President, 
and  Professor  of  Belles-Lettres;  Rev.  Frederick  Mer- 
rick, A.  M.,  Professor  of  Biblical  Literature  and  Moral 
Science;  Rev.  Lorenzo  D.  M'Cabe,  A.  M.,  Professor  of 
Mathematics  and  Mechanical  Philosophy;  William  Gr. 
Williams,  A.  M.,  Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin  Lan- 
guages and  Literature;  Rev.  William  L.  Harris,  A.  M., 
Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Natural  History;  John  Og- 
den,  Principal  of  Normal  Department;  Samuel  W.  Wil- 
liams, A.  M.,  Tutor  in  Languages;  Tullius  C.  0'Kane/ 
A.  M.,  Tutor  in  Mathematics. 

Terms  and  Vacations. — The  collegiate  year  is  di- 
vided into  three  sessions  and  three  vacations. 

The  first  session  commences  eight  weeks  after  the 
second  Wednesday  in  June,  and  continues  till  the  first 
Wednesday  in  November. 

The  second  session  commences  two  weeks  after  the 
close  of  the  first  session,  and  continues  till  the  third 
Wednesday  in  February. 

The  third  session  commences  two  weeks  after  the  close 
of  the  second  session,  and  continues  till  the  second 
Wednesday  in  June. 

Expenses  and  Payments. — Tuition  in  the  collegiate 
department,  per  year,  630;  tuition  for  half  collegiate 
recitations,  $25;  tuition  in  the  preparatory  department, 


METHODISM    IN    DAYTON.  M  7 

$20;  room  rent,  SI. 50  per  session,  84.50;  incidental  ex- 
penses, SI— $3. 

These  charges  are  payable  by  the  session  in  advance. 
Boarding  in  private  families  at  from  $2  to  $2.50  per 
week.  Students  can  board  themselves  at  from  81  to  SI. 50 
per  week. 

With  Rev.  E.  Thomson,  D.  I).,  I  have  had  a  long 
acquaintance.  He  has  few  equals,  and  no  superiors  as 
a  college  president  in  the  west.  Professors  Merrick, 
M'Cabe,  Williams,  and  Harris  are  very  talented,  and,  in 
their  several  departments,  are  very  popular  and  success- 
ful. Indeed,  the  faculty  are  all  "  good  men  and  true," 
of  well-known  ability  throughout  the  western  coun- 
try generally.  May  the  College  have  a  still  brighter 
future ! 


CHAPTER    LXXIX. 

METHODISM     IN     DAYTON. 

Dayton,  where  I  now  reside,  is  situated  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Great  Miami,  at  the  mouth  of  Mad  river.  The 
point  at  which  Dayton  now  stands  was  selected  in  1788 
by  some  gentlemen  who  designed  laying  out  a  town  by 
the  name  of  Venice.  This  project  was  abandoned  by 
the  purchasers  in  consequence  of  Indian  hostilities. 

Soon  after  Wayne's  treaty,  in  1795,  a  new  company, 
composed  of  Generals  Jonathan  Dayton,  Arthur  St. 
Clair,  James  Wilkinson,  and  Col.  Israel  Ludlow,  pur- 
chased the  lands  between  the  Miamis,  around  the  mouth 
of  Mad  river,  and  laid  out  the  town.  The  first  families 
who  made  a  permanent  residence  in  the  place,  arrived  on 
the  first  day  of  April,  1796.  In  1803,  on  the  organiza- 
tion of  the   state   government,  Montgomery  county  was 


518         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

established,  and  Dayton  made  the  seat  of  justice.  The 
earliest  record  of  the  county  is  June  11,  1804.  What 
a  change  has  transpired  since  that  period !  Wolves  and 
panthers,  and  other  wild  beasts,  roved  through  the 
"wildwood,"  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers.  Premiums 
were  offered  for  killing  them,  and  in  1806  three  dollars 
and  seventy-five  cents  was  paid  for  killing  panthers ;  and 
as  late  as  1810  the  county  records  reveal  the  fact  that 
thirty  dollars  was  paid  for  "  wolf-scalps." 

In  1805  an  agreement  was  made  with  the  trustees  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  for  the  loan  of  five  hun- 
dred dollars  to  build  a  court-house,  the  money  to  be  re- 
funded to  the  Church  before  1810,  and  the  Church  to 
have  the  privilege  of  the  use  of  the  court-house  till 
the  money  be  refunded. 

In  giving  an  account  of  the  origin  of  Methodism  in 
Dayton,  I  have  had  access  to  the  old  Church  Register, 
which  contains  much  correct  information.  From  the 
pages  of  that  ancient  record  I  make  the  following  ex- 
tracts : 

"In  the  year  1798,  by  the  bishops  and  conference  in 
Kentucky,  I  was  sent  to  form  a  circuit  in  the  Miami  Val- 
ley, which  I  commenced  down  at  Fort  Washington,  now 
Cincinnati.  Then  there  were  but  a  few  log-cabins.  I 
then  passed  up  the  Little  Miami  river  to  Madison,  and 
took  in  Dayton,  which  consisted  of  eight  or  ten  log- 
cabins  only,  where  I  formed  the  first  class  of  six  or 
eight  persons,  of  which  class  William  Hamer  was  made 
leader.  I  then  passed  down  the  Miami  to  Cincinnati, 
where  I  joined  twenty-eight  members,  administering  the 
first  sacrament  at  brother  M'Cormick's,  where  Milford 
now  stands;  and  in  1841  I  am  in  Dayton  again,  in  the 
eeventy-fourth  year  of  my  age.  John  Kobler." 


METHODISM     IN     DAYTON  519 

"PREFACE 

'*TC    THE    STEWARDS'     BOOK,    OR    RECORD     OF     THE     METHODIST     EPISCOPAL 
[CHURCH]    SOCIETY   OF   DAYTOX,    MAD    RIVER   CIRCUIT. 

"The  necessity  of  a  regular  Church  record  is  obvious 
to  every  member;  the  want  of  one,  the  cause  of  frequent 
complaint.  It  is  to  be  lamented  that  so  important  a  sub- 
ject is  not  generally  attended  to.  There  is  too  much 
reliance  placed  on  class  papers;  but  these  being  renewed 
annually,  all  dates  are  lost.  There  is,  also,  too  much  re- 
liance on  memory.  My  present  design  is  to  endeavor  to 
trace  the  society  back  to  the  time  of  its  being  estab- 
lished in  Dayton.  I  shall  want  information  that  it  seems 
impossible  to  obtain.  Much  of  the  material  is  dateless; 
I  can  state  the  most  essential,  but  not  in  exact  order.  I 
shall  record  what  comes  to  my  remembrance  between  the 
establishment  of  the  society  in  Dayton  and  my  being 
appointed  steward  of  the  society. 

"Feb.,  1815.  Geo.  S.  Houston,  Secretary:7 

In  the  introduction  of  the  Church  record  I  find  the 
following  note : 

"Previous  to  October,  1811,  our  public  meetings  had 
been  irregular — preaching,  at  times,  in  Dayton,  but  stat- 
edly at  brother  "William  Hauler's.  The  class  and  prayer 
meetings  were  held  at  brother  William  Cottingham's, 
who  was  class-leader,  or  at  brother  Thomas  Cottom's, 
about  one  mile  east  of  Dayton. 

"  Bishop  Asbury  preached  in  the  court-house,  Septem- 
ber 22d,  on  his  way  to  the  annual  conference,  held  in 
Cincinnati,  October  1,  1811.  At  this  conference  Eev. 
John  Collins,  Eev.  Moses  Crume,  and  Eev.  J.  Tatman 
were  appointed  to  Mad  Hirer  circuit.  Brother  Collins 
preached  on  Sabbath  in  the  court-house,  and  requested  a 
meeting  of  the  society  on  Monday  evening,  at  4  o'clock, 
P.  M.  The  following  were  the  members  at  this  time : 
"Geo.  S.  Houston,  Secretary. 


620         FOOT-PBINTfi    o  1     AN     I T I  N  E  R  A  N  T  . 

'•'William  Cottingham,  class-leader;  Mary  Cottingham, 
Anna  Cottiugharn,  Leah  Cottingham,  Joshua  E.  Cotting- 
ham, William  Hanier,  sen.,  Mary  Haruer,  Polly  Hanier, 
Betsy  Hanier,  Thomas  Cottom,  Priscilla  Cottom,  James 
Cottom,  Xancy  Cottoni,  Jane  Snodgras^,  Aaron  Baker, 
Hannah  Baker,  Philip  Sowers,  Peggy  Sowers,  Peter 
Brewer,  Barney  Brewer,  Joseph  Willson,  Jane  Willson, 
Stephen  Sprague,  .Jemima  Sprague — Total  24.'* 

At  the  bottom  of  the  list  I  find  the  following  u  memo- 
randa,'-' in  the  handwriting  of  Rev.  John  Kobler : 

"Formed  the  Miami  circuit  in  179S;  visited  it  again 
in  1841.  John  Kobler, 

••'  Aged  74  years. 
"  September  13,  1841.     Dayton." 

In  the  fail  of  1815  the  little  band  had  increased  to 
forty,  and  in  1818  there  were  two  classes,  numbering 
in  all  sixty-three — Thomas  Sullivan  and  Thomas  Cottom, 
lead 

Extracts  from  the  journal  of  Rev.  John  Kol' 

"JjonTs  day,  August  12.  1798. — Preached  in  Dayton, 
a  little  village  by  that  name  on  the  bank  of  the  Big 
:  river,  and  just  below  its  junction  with  Mad  river. 
Here  are  a  few  k  g  houses  and  eight  or  ten  families  re- 
siding. Here  I  Baw  some  tokens  for  good;  the  people 
seem  to  receive  the  word  preached  with  all  readiness  of 
mind 3  indeed,  several  in  the  little  company  were  much 
affected.  When  divine  service  was  over  I  saw  an  Indian 
standing  id  the  yard  reading.  I  expect  he  was  the  fruit 
of  the  Moravian  missionaries  toward  the  north,  as  his 
book  was  in  the  German  language,  and  he  of  the  Shaw- 
nee tribe.  could  speak  a  little  English,  I  asked 
him  if  he  knew  for  what  intent  we  had  met  together, 
and  what  we  had  been  doing.  He  said,  'To  worship  the 
Great  Spirit  and  to  do  good.'  I  asked  him  if  he  knew 
that  Christ  died  for  sinners.      '  0,  yes,'  said  he,  'I  know 


METHODISM     IN     DAYTON.  521 

that  Jesus  came  a  little  baby  into  the  world,  and  that  he 
died  upon  the  cross  to  save  us  from  our  sins,  and  bring 
us  to  heaven  at  last/ 

"In  this  neighborhood  there  are  six  or  eight  Method- 
ists settled,  and  among  them  there  is  a  local  preacher  by 
the  name  of  Hamer.  I  think  he  came  down  from  the 
Redstone  country;  is  from  forty  to  forty-five  years  of  age. 
Last  year  he  raised  a  class  of  the  few  scattered  Method- 
ists here,  and  for  awhile  met  them  as  leader.  I  visited 
each  of  them  severally,  as  far  as  possible,  examined  into 
the  state  of  their  souls,  and  found  some  of  them  filled 
with  prejudice.  I  held  a  second  public  meeting  among 
them,  and  read  the  rules  of  the  society;  laid  before  them 
the  great  necessity  of  Christian  union  in  Church  mem- 
bership, and  invited  all  those  of  them  who  could  fellow- 
ship each  other  to  come  forward  and  join  in  class.  So 
we  organized  a  regular  class  of  eight  members,  of  whom 
brother  Hamer  was  appointed  leader. 

"It  is  impossible  for  a  person  of  intelligence  to  ex- 
plore this  region  of  country,  and  not  be  deeply  impressed 
with  a  forcible  conviction  of  its  future  prosperity.  Na- 
ture appears  to  have  united  all  her  advantages  of  land 
and  water  to  pour  forth,  at  a  future  day,  immense  treasure 
into  the  hands  of  the  rising  generation.  The  lands  are 
a  beautiful  level,  and  as  fertile  soil  as  heart  could  wish. 
The  rivers  abound  with  clear,  fresh,  wholesome  running 
water,  affording  every  convenience  for  hydraulic  power, 
and  sufficiently  navigable  to  carry  down  all  the  produce 
of  the  country  and  tradesmen  to  a  good  market. 

"Monday,  August  13,  1798. — Rode  down  the  Big  Mi- 
ami river  twelve  miles,  and  preached  in  an  old  fortress  to 
a  small  company,  consisting  chiefly  of  the  few  families 
that  lived  in  the  fort.  On  inquiry  I  found  that  this  fort- 
ress was  on  the  frontier,  and  no  settlement  around  or 
near  them.  The  inhabitants  of  this  country  ire  pnvertv- 
44 


522  POO»-PfiINTS     Ol'     AN     ITINERANT. 

stricken  in  the  extreme.  The  sustenance  for  man  and 
horse  can  scarcely  be  obtained  through  the  parts  of  the 
country  which  I  have  passed.  However,  they  set  before 
me  the  principal  dish  I  have  subsisted  on  since  forming 
this  circuit — a  dish  of  boiled  corn,  in  its  soft  state,  of 
which  I  gladly  partook  with  a  joyful  heart.  Rode  on 
several  miles  to  a  little  village  called  Franklin,  where  1 
was  kindly  entertained  by  a  gentleman  whom  they  called 
Captain  Ross.  His  companion  was  indeed  a  fine-disposed 
lady,  who  spared  no  pains  to  render  my  situation  agree- 
able. I  preached  in  his  house  by  candle-light  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  place,  which  consisted  of  six  or  eight 
families.  I  was  much  taken  with  the  appearance  and 
seriousness  of  this  company,  several  of  whom  appeared 
to  hear  for  their  souls,  and  felt  deeply,  as  was  manifest 
by  their  tears. 

" Indeed,  my  faith  for  this  new  circuit  has  much 
strengthened  since  last  Sabbath,  and  at  this  time  and 
place  took  firm  hold  on  the  throne  of  the  Eternal.  The 
promise,  '  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway/  is  like  unto  a  sheet- 
anchor  to  the  missionary,  brightens  the  future,  and  looks 
forward  to  a  successful  day  of  the  Church's  glory,  when 
the  righteousness  thereof  shall  go  forth  with  brightness, 
and  the  salvation  thereof  like  a  lamp  that  burnetii  ; 
when  this  wilderness  and  solitary  place  shall  be  glad  for 
them;  and  when  this  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blossom 
abundantly,  even  with  joy  and  singing;  then  Zion  shall 
break  forth  upon  the  right  hand  and  upon  the  left,  and 
her  seed  shall  inherit  the  Gentiles,  when  many  souls, 
won  by  grace,  shall  return  with  songs  and  everlasting  joy 
upon  their  heads!  The  Lord  hasten  it  in  his  time! 
This  night  I  strengthened  my  hands  in  God;  and,  al- 
though my  body  is  feeble  and  much  exhausted  by  labors 
more  abundant,  yet  none  of  these  things  move  me,  nor 
hhall  thev  detract,  for  a  moment,  from  that  steady  pui- 


METHODISM     IN    DAYTON.  523 

pose  of  winning  Christ,  and  calling  poor  outcasts  to  the 
Feasts  of  grace. 

"As  the  settlers  of  this  place  have  no  fields  open  here 
for  farming,  they  went  over  to  the  west  side  of  the  Mi- 
ami river  last  spring,  into  a  rich  prairie,  which  they  pre- 
pared and  planted  in  corn,  without  any  fence  or  inclos- 
ure — as  there  were  no  domestic  animals  to  destroy  it. 
This  fall  they  told  me  that  the  result  was  very  promising, 
and  bid  fair  for  a  good  crop. 

"  Tuesday,  August  14. — I  rode  down  the  Miami  thirty- 
six  miles  to  explore  the  country.  I  found  the  settlement 
very  sparse,  only  now  and  then  a  white  family.  About 
four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  came  to  an  old  garrison  called  Fort 
Washington,  situated  on  the  bank  of  the  Big  river.  It 
bore  the  appearance  of  a  declining,  time-stricken  place. 
Here  are  a  few  log  buildings  beside  the  fortress,  and  a 
few  families  residing,  together  with  a  small  printing- 
office,  just  put  into  operation,  and  a  small  store,  opened 
by  a  man  of  the  name  of  Snodgrass.  This,  I  was  told, 
was  the  great  place  of  old  for  the  rendezvous  of  the  Fed- 
eral troops,  when  going  to  war  with  the  Indians.  Here, 
alas !  General  St.  Clair  made  his  last  encampment  with 
his  troops  before  he  met  his  lamentable  defeat.  Here  I 
wanted  to  preach  very  much,  but  could  find  no  opening 
or  reception  whatever.  I  left  the  garrison  to  pursue  my 
enterprise,  with  the  full  intention  of  visiting  it  again, 
and  making  another  effort  with  them  on  my  next  round; 
but  this  I  was  not  permitted  to  do. 

"August  19,  1798. — I  preached  at  a  brother  M'Cor- 
mick's,  eleven  miles  from  where  Cincinnati  now  stands, 
to  a  considerable  company  of  attentive  hearers. 

"  Thursday,  August  24. — Yisited  a  new  settlement 
called  Sycamore,  and  preached  at  the  house  of  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Dusky,  from  these  words :  'The  Son  of  man 
is  come  to  seek  and  save  that  which  was  lost.'     The  fol- 


524         TOOT -PRINTS    OF    an    itinerant. 

lowing  day  I  preached  at  a  Mr.  Ramsey's  on  faith  and 
love,  and  the  day  following  at  Mr.  Yinyard's.  Next  morn- 
ing rode  twenty  miles  to  Beaver  creek,  and  preached 
at  Johun's.  The  next  day  I  pushed  on  to  the  Mad  river 
settlement,  and  reached  brother  Sink's  weary  and  faint 
Here  I  met  with  one  of  Baron  Swedenborg's  disciples. 
He  appeared  to  be  a  man  of  good  natural  sense,  but  his 
mind,  alas!  as  to  religion  and  spirituality,  is  as  visionary 
as  that  of  Mohammed  himself.  He  moved  from  Phila- 
delphia. Here  I  saw  a  grist-mill  in  operation  grinding 
corn.  The  dam  across  the  creek  was  constructed  and 
built  entirely  by  the  beavers,  where  lay  a  tree  twelve 
inches  in  diameter,  the  stump  of  which  I  measured  with 
my  own  hands,  which  they  had  cut  down  with  their 
teeth.  The  limbs  of  the  tree  were  cut  off  in  the  same 
manner,  and  all  wrought  up  in  the  dam  in  the  best  possi- 
ble manner.  If  this  is  not  reason,  it  is  certainly  verging 
very  near  to  it. 

"  August '26,  1798. — Preached  in  Dayton,  on  Sabbath, 
to  all  the  people  which  town  and  country  could  afford, 
who  were  but  few  at  best.  My  diary,  before  me,  states 
that  the  word  preached,  at  this  time  and  place,  was 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  company  with  a  powerful, 
quickening  influence.  All  present  appeared  to  be  struck 
under  conviction,  and  some  made  the  inquiry,  '  What 
must  I  do  to  be  saved  V  Some  followed  me  to  the  house 
where  I  staid,  and  expressed  an  increasing  desire  to  be 
wholly  devoted  to  God.  The  success  of  the  Gospel  on 
this  missionary  field  is  no  longer  a  problem. 

"I  was  at  this  time  a  very  sick  man.  Started  from 
Dayton  down  to  my  appointment  at  Hold's  station,  twelve 
miles;  reached  the  place;  the  people  were  collected; 
was  not  able  to  preach.  Under  present  circumstances  T 
was  at  a  loss  to  know  what  course  to  pursue.  To  travel 
and  preach  was  impossible,  and  to  lie  sick  at  any  of  the 


METHODISM     IX     DAYTON.  525 

houses  in  these  parts  would  be  choosing  death,  as  it  is 
next  to  impossible  for  a  well  man  to  get  food  or  suste- 
nance, much  more  for  one  prostrate  on  a  bed  of  sickness. 
Nest  morning  started  to  brother  M'Corinick's,  about 
fifty  miles  distant,  as  the  only  place  where  I  could  stay 
with  any  degree  of  comfort.  I  rode  this  day  twenty-five 
miles  under  circumstances  trying  to  feeble  nature.  I 
had  taken  no  sustenance  in  the  morning  and  could  reach 
no  house.  When  my  fever  became  high  I  had  recourse 
to  the  ground  for  a  bed  for  about  two  hours.  I  then 
rode  on  to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Harlan,  who  received  me 
kindly. 

"January  1,  1799. — Preached  in  Dayton  to  a  mixed 
company  of  traders  from  Detroit,  some  Indians,  French, 
and  English.  Knowing  that  they  all  had  immortal  souls 
to  be  saved,  I  took  for  my  text,  'In  every  nation  he 
that  feareth  God  and  worketh  righteousness  is  accepted 
of  him.'  I  lifted  up  my  voice  like  a  trumpet,  cried 
aloud,  and  spared  not  \  laid  before  them  the  corruptions 
of  their  wicked  hearts,  and  the  fearful  consequences  of  a 
life  of  sin,  in  such  pressing  terms  that  many  of  them 
looked  wild,  and  stood  aghast,  as  if  they  would  take  to 
their  heels.  After  preaching  I  met  the  class,  and  found 
them  in  a  prosperous  state,  walking  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord. 

" January  2. — On  Monday  expounded  the  126th  Psalm 
at  Hold's  station,  with  considerable  success. 

"March  25. — Preached  at  Ramsey's,  and  again  at 
night  met  the  society.  As  there  were  no  candles  to  be 
had  for  night-reading  and  study,  necessity  invented  the 
following  plan:  Take  clarified  beeswax,  and,  while  in  a 
warm  state,  roll  it  out  in  the  shape  of  a  tube,  one  end  of 
which  is  rolled  into  a  coil,  which  answers  for  the  candle- 
stick In  daytime  we  had  recourse  to  the  woods  to  study 
and  read  the  Bible. 


520  FOOT-PRINTS     OF     AN     ITINERANT. 

" April  2,  1799. — Preached  in  Dayton,  for  the  last 
time,  to  all  that  town  and  country  round  about  could 
afford,  which  were  not  many.  Subject  of  discourse  waa 
JSaaU  selling  his  birthright.  I  improved  the  subject  by 
showing  that  every  soul  living  has  a  spiritual  birthright 
by  virtue  of  the  death  and  merits  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ;  that  by  improving  it  as  the  Gospel  directs,  we 
become  heirs  of  God  and  joint-heirs  with  Christ  to  an 
eternal  inheritance ;  yet  this  bequest  may  be  sold,  and  ia 
often  sold,  for  a  mere  sinful  trifle,  which  never  fails  to 
meet  the  Divine  displeasure  here  and  hereafter.  I  then 
met  the  class,  read  the  rules,  and  pressed  on  the  society 
the  various  duties  devolving  upon  them  as  Church  mem- 
bers; to  attend  class  meeting,  and  follow  peace  with  all 
men,  and  walk  in  love  one  with  another. 

'•Here  I  saw  Dozier  for  the  last  time.  He  is  a  young 
white  man,  about  twenty  years  of  age.  He  was  taken  by 
the  Indians  when  a  child,  and  has  continued  with  them 
ever  since.  When  I  first  saw  him  at  preaching  I  took 
much  notice  of  him,  and  asked  him  to  eat  with  me.  He 
frequently  attended  my  meetings  with  some  other  Indi- 
ans; always  took  him  into  class  with  me,  and  at  times 
saw  him  affected.  This  day  he  appeared  to  be  filled  with 
emotion,  and,  when  he  took  leave  of  me,  burst  into  a 
flood  of  tears. 

"  Next  morning,  on  my  way,  I  called  to  see  a  young 
man  that  was  reported  to  be  dying.  I  found  him  lying 
on  some  scraps  of  rags,  apparently  breathing  his  last. 
He  cried  to  God,  with  uplifted  hands,  to  save  his  body 
from  death,  and  his  soul  from  ruin !  Preached  at  Hold's 
station  and  at  Franklin  at  night.  In  time  of  the  first 
prayer  a  company  of  fifteen  Indians  came  to  the  door. 
When  we  rose  up  from  prayer  the  old  chief  fixed  his  eye 
on  me,  and  pushed  through  the  company  to  give  me  his 
hand.     He  was  strung  out  with  jewels  in  his  ears,  nose, 


METHODISM     IN     DAYTON.  527 

and  breast.  When  the  service  was  over  the  chief  gave 
me  his  hand,  and  they  all  retired  in  good  order." 

In  November,  1811,  while  Rev.  John  Collins  was 
preacher  in  charge  of  Union  circuit,  three  subscription 
papers  were  circulated  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds 
to  erect  the  first  Methodist  church  in  this  city,  under 
the  superintendence  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  Collins.  Decem- 
ber 26,  1811,  a  board  of  trustees  was  appointed,  which 
consisted  of  the  following  persons :  Andrew  Read,  Thos. 
Smith,  Henry  Opdyche,  William  Cottingham,  Thomas 
Cottom,  Aaron  Baker. 

These  subscription  papers  were  not  only  circulated  in 
town,  but  around  on  the  circuit  as  far  as  Piqua.  I  find 
names  familiar  to  me  now.  The  board,  on  examining 
those  papers,   found  the  following  amounts  subscribed: 

Cash |78  00 

Merchandise To  05 

Produce 6U  50 

Materials 138  00 

Work 74  00 

Hauling 21  50 

Spinning-wheel  and  sundries 4  00 

Total $451  05 

A  resolution  was  then  passed  to  erect  a  " meeting- 
house ';  of  the  following  description  :  u  A  single  story, 
at  least  twelve  feet  in  hight;  to  be  forty  feet  in  length, 
and  thirty  feet  in  breadth  ;  to  have  two  proportionate 
doors;  to  be  a  good,  substantial  frame,  weatherboarded, 
well  shingled,  and  lathed  and  plastered. "  It  was  also 
"  resolved  that  Aaron  Baker  be  appointed  to  receive 
the  subscriptions. "  The  house  was  erected  in  the  year 
1812. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1813,  a  resolution  was  passed 
by  the  board  of  trustees  to  petition  the  Legislature  to 
empower  D  C.  Cooper,  Esq.,  to  make  a  deed  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  a  lot  of  ground  donated 


528  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

by  him,   situated   on   Third-street  and  corner  of  Main 
The  deeds  were  regularly  executed  in  1814. 

In  March,  1814,  it  was  resolved  by  the  board  to  sell 
the  west  corner,  on  Main-street,  of  said  lots,  to  procure 
means  to  finish  the  frame  meeting-house.  The  whole 
work  was  superintended  by  Aaron  Baker.  A  fourth  part 
of  said  lot  was  sold  for  $750,  and  the  house  completed,  at 
a  cost  of  $l,210.98f,  in  the  year  1816. 

"The  word  of  the  Lord  grew  and  multiplied  in  Day- 
ton," and  in  1827  the  society  resolved  to  erect  a  new 
house  of  worship,  forty  feet  by  fifty,  of  brick.  This  sec- 
ond house  was  also  built  by  the  late  Aaron  Baker,  and 
was  occupied  by  the  society  till  the  year  1817,  when  the 
old  brick  was  removed  and  the  present  beautiful  chapel 
erected  in  its  place.  The  edifice  is  eighty-two  feet  long 
and  fifty-five  wide,  with  a  tower  and  bell,  a  more  particu- 
lar account  of  which  shall  be  given  hereafter. 

I  may  remark  that  Rev.  James  Welch  removed  from 
Kentucky,  in  1804,  and  preached  alternately  at  "Bulah," 
and  for  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  in  Dayton.  This 
Church  has  gradually  increased  in  prosperity  till  the 
present  time,  and  there  are  now  three  Presbyterian 
Churches  in  the  city. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  quarterly 
conference,  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Parrott,  Esq.,  on  De- 
cember 9,  1839,  while  Rev.  David  Whitcomb  was  in 
charge  of  Wesley  Chapel,  and  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley  presid- 
ing elder  of  the  district,  it  was  "  unanimously  resolved 
to  raise  a  centenary  subscription  for  the  erection  of  an- 
other Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Dayton,  Ohio." 

In  July  10,  1841,  I  find  the  following  record  in  the 
Minutes  of  the  fourth  quarterly  meeting  conference : 
"  That,  whereas,  it  is  contemplated  to  build  a  second 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  edifice  east  of  the  canal ; 
and.   whereas,   a   committee    was   appointed   to  purchase 


METHODISM     IN     DAYTON.  529 

a  lot  for  that  purpose,  which  said  lot  was  deeded  to  J. 
W.  Griswold ;  therefore,  resolved,  that  the  preacher 
in  charge  be  requested  to  appoint  a  new  board  of  trus- 
tees, to  obtain  a  deed  according  to  the  Discipline  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church;  whereupon  the  following 
brethren,  were  appointed  said  board :  John  Chase,  TV.  L. 
Williams,  Jacob  TV.  Griswold,  Thomas  H.  Sullivan,  and 
Jeremiah  Wilt." 

The  deed  was  executed  September  3,  1841,  and  the 
church  was  put  under  contract  immediately — Daniel  Cof- 
fin and  D.  Wayme  contractors.  According  to  contract 
the  church  was  to  be  finished  November  15,  1841.  The 
house  was  completed  and  called  Finley  Chapel,  after  Rev. 
J.  B.  Finley,  who  was  then  presiding  elder  of  the  Day- 
ton district,  and  had  done  much  toward  the  building  up 
of  this  society.  It  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God 
January  9,  1842.  The  quarterly  meeting  conference  re- 
quested a  minister  to  be  appointed,  to  assist  brother 
Waterman  at  the  new  church.  Brother  Beal,  a  local 
preacher,  was  appointed  by  the  presiding  elder  to  aid, 
etc.  He  was  recommended  to  the  annual  conference. 
In  1842  Rev.  Wm.  Herr  and  Anthony  Musgrove  were 
appointed,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year,  namely,  in  the 
fall  of  1843,  Finley  Chapel  was  erected  into  a  separate 
charge.  The  next  year  the  society  was  served  by  Rev. 
Anthony  Musgrove,  who  was  appointed  as  a  supply  by 
the  presiding  elder.  In  1845  Rev.  Moses  Smith  was 
appointed  by  the  conference  to  Finley  Chapel.  Since 
then  the  society  at  Finley  Chapel  has  gradually  prospered. 

In  the  year  1852,  while  Rev.  Thomas  Gorsuch  was 
preacher  in  charge  of  Finley  Chapel,  the  society  resolved 
to  build  a  new  brick  edifice.  The  old  frame  house  was 
accordingly  sold  to  another  denomination,  and  removed 
from  the  lot,  and  the  new  house-  was  finished  and  dedi- 
cated on  the  first  of  January,  1853,  This  has  been  a 
45 


r-p&ijn  i  itiisiaht. 

.ranch  of  Methodism,   and  the   brethren 
are  zealous  an- 

a   ::'  one  hnndred  PPro" 

if  es- 
ing  a  thi  hurch  in 

:  river.     Last  fall  a  preacher 

pointed — B       ¥     "i:zgerald.     In  due  time  a  com- 

:  I  and  a  I  .  I  in  a  central  part 

d  front  by  one  hnndred  and 

;>nated  b; 
:ioftnr         i      appointed, 
and  £  .mmer  at 

[Ham   Herr,  the  presid- 
ing ?h  is  now 
and   r. 

zealous  and  valuable  member  7  Chapel  have 

I  with  the 

.  forty 

Ehc  -----     -  ■  feet, 

and  it 

brethren  have  pel,  in 

honor  of  Rev.  I  Thai  son,  who  liberally  eontril 

iia     .  -    -    -       ....    dollars  toward  its  er-: 

The  hj    ;1  was  two  thousand,  five  hi:. 

.  :.rs. 

.    mall  for  the  increasing 
the  fall  of  1847,  at  a  leaders'  meeting, 
:  office  of  Wesley  Chapel,  the  following  resolu- 
tion :d: 

Ra          .   1  .neeting  recommend  to  the  trns- 

:  this  church  to  make  arrangements  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  church  on  the  ground  where  the  old  church 
n  their  judgment,  the  resources 
.:'  the     ..irchwill  justify ;  and  that  Rev.  John  8.   In- 
ship. 


METHODISM     IN     DAYTON.  531 

agent.  And  we  also  authorize  him  to  take  any  measures 
that  he  may  deem  most  expedient  to  raise  the  neces- 
sary funds,  and  that  we  will  co-operate  with  him  as  far 
as  circumstances  will  permit/' 

The  work  was  soon  commenced,  and,  through  the  inde- 
fatigable exertions  of  brother  Inskip  and  his  amiable 
wife,  the  present  beautiful  edifice  was  erected  and  fin- 
ished early  in  January,  1849.  A  highly  complimentary 
preamble  and  resolutions  were  presented  by  the  quarterly 
meeting  to  Rev.  J.  Inskip  and  wife,  for  having,  during 
the  year,  caused  to  be  erected  such  a  beautiful  and  com- 
modious house  of  worship.  The  dedication  sermon  of 
this  church  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  Simpson,  now 
Bishop  Simpson.  Having  honored  the  Lord  by  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  sanctuary,  the  membership  enjoyed  relig- 
ious prosperity,  and  many  were  added,  from  time  to  time, 
of  such  as  will,  doubtless,  in  the  end,  enter  the  temple 
above,  the  "  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens." 

In  the  month  of  January,  1854,  Wesley  Chapel  edifice 
was  seriously  damaged  by  the  falling  of  an  adjoining 
building.  During  the  early  part  of  the  ensuing  sum- 
mer the  church  was  neatly  repaired,  and  the  time  of 
re-dedication  appointed,  when  a  severe  storm  threw  a 
part  of  the  new  Gorman  building  on  the  roof  a  second 
time,  crushing  part  of  the  wall  and  damaging  the  inte- 
rior to  a  considerable  extent.  The  trustees,  however, 
repaired  it  again,  more  speedily  than  before,  and  in  due 
time  the  Church  was  reopened.  The  entire  cost  of  the 
repairs  and  refurnishing  the  church,  as  it  now  stands, 
was  over  three  thousand,  six  hundred  dollars.  Under  the 
pastorship  of  Rev.  E.  G-.  Nicholson,  the  Church  is  at 
present  in  a  state  of  peace  and  prosperity;  and  long  may 
it  exist  and  flourish  as  a  vine  of  the  Lord's  planting; 
ever  pleasant  in  his  eyes ! 


532         FOOT -PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT 


CHAPTER  LXXX. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH  IN  URBANA. 

Urbana  has  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  strongholds 
of  our  western  Zion.  In  an  early  day  several  members 
of  the  Church,  from  the  old  settled  portions  of  the 
country,  emigrated  to  Ohio,  and  a  few  of  them  selected 
the  broad  and  fertile  plains  of  what  is  appropriately 
denominated  Champaign  county.  In  1807 — forty-eight 
years  ago,  embracing  a  period  of  almost  half  a  century — 
Rev.  T.  Milligan  visited  the  town  of  Urbana,  and,  after 
opening  up  his  mission  as  a  pioneer  preacher,  in  the 
house  of  John  Reynolds,  Esq.,  he  opened  the  doors  of 
the  Church,  and  received  into  her  pale  the  following 
persons,  whom  he  organized  into  a  class,  namely:  John 
Reynolds,  Jane  Reynolds,  Frederick  Ambrose,  Jane  Am- 
brose, Ann  Fitch,  Mary  Leman,  Margaret  Leman,  and 
Mary  Leman,  jr. — now  the  widow  of  the  late  Governor 
Vance — Mrs.  Rigdon,  Thomas  Pearce,  and  Jane  Pearce. 

Regular  preaching  was  kept  up  at  the  house  of  brother 
Reynolds  till  the  year  1811,  when  Rev.  John  Collins, 
assistant  preacher  on  the  Mad  River  circuit,  made  ar- 
rangements for  the  erection  of  a  church,  and  appointed 
the  following  persons  a  board  of  trustees,  namely :  Saul 
Henkle,  Nathaniel  Pinkard,  Abner  Barrett,  Frederick 
Ambrose,  James  Davisson,  Thomas  Moore,  and  John 
Reynolds.  As  that  was  the  day  of  log-cabins,  the  most 
that  could  be  accomplished  was  the  erection  of  a  log 
church,  the  completion  and  dedication  of  which,  among 
the  early  settlers,  was  regarded  as  great  an  enterprise  as 
is  now  connected  with  the  erection  of  the  most  magnifi- 
cent edifices  of  the  present  day.     The  location  of  this 


METHODISM     IN     U  II  B  A  N  A  .  533 

log  church  was  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  town,  and 
in  due  course  of  time  it  was  erected.  It  was  near  the 
old  graveyard,  and  its  dimensions  were  thirty  feet  wide 
by  fifty  feet  in  length.  Its  puncheon  floor  and  clapboard 
roof,  antiquated  pulpit  and  seats,  wooden  sconces  and 
chandelier,  were  all  in  keeping  with  its  rude  exterior. 
The  simplicity  of  the  style  of  architecture,  which  might 
be  denominated  the  " backwoods"  style,  was  no  less 
striking  than  the  backwoods  style  of  the  minister  and 
his  flock — the  one  plain,  honest,  fervid,  and  eloquent  as 
nature  and  grace  alone  can  inspire,  and  the  other  truth- 
ful, and  loving,  and  zealous,  full  of  faith  and  good  works. 
In  such  rude  and  simple  edifices  our  fathers  worshiped  in 
days  of  yore ;  and  among  the  first  churches  which  were 
erected  in  the  North-Western  territory,  and  subsequently 
the  states  now  included  in  the  tract  of  country  lying 
north-west  of  the  Ohio  river,  the  Methodist  stands  fore- 
most, Methodism  was  the  pioneer  religion  of  this  then 
dense  wilderness,  with  its  sparse  population;  but  the 
prestige  of  pioneer  life  is  gone,  and  with  it,  we  fear,  its 
simple,  earnest  worship.  Quarterly  meetings  and  camp 
meetings  in  those  days  were  occasions  of  unusual  interest 
to  the  Methodist  Israel,  as  they  met  from  many  and  dis- 
tant points  to  hold  communion  with  Grod,  and  make  the 
forests  vocal  with  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise.  We 
would  not  say  that  the  former  times  were  better  than 
these;  for,  in  many  respects,  the  Church  has  made  a 
healthy  progress;  but  we  think  there  is  not  the  same 
amount  of  self-sacrificing  devotion  exhibited  as  then,  nor 
are  the  means  of  grace  peculiar  to  Methodism  as  fully 
appreciated.  Methodism  has  peculiar  distinctive  charac- 
teristics, to  which  she  must  adhere,  or  lose  not  only  her 
hold  upon  the  public  mind,  but  her  aggressive  power; 
and  while  she  keeps  up  with  the  age  in  all  conservito- 
progressive  movements,  we  trust  she  will  ever  preserve 


534         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

her  strongly-marked  identity  with  her  original  character, 
The  old  log  church,  having  answered  well  its  purpose 
for  the  times,  was  destined  to  give  way  to  the  march  of 
improvement;  and,  in  the  year  1816,  a  lot  was  purchased 
on  North  Main  and  Church  streets,  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  thereon  a  new  church,  not,  however,  of  logs, 
but  of  brick,  and  of  a  more  tasteful  architecture.  What 
is  remarkable,  is  that  the  new  church,  which  was  erected 
and  took  the  place  of  the  old  one,  was  of  the  same  size, 
being  thirty  by  fifty  feet. 

In  this  church  the  society  worshiped  for  nineteen 
years.  Many  interesting  and  thrilling  reminiscences 
could  be  related  of  the  labors  and  successes  of  the  pas- 
tors connected  with  this  charge  during  so  many  years; 
but  pastors  and  people  alike  have  gone,  and  with  them, 
to  a  very  great  extent,  has  passed  away  the  remembrance 
of  the  hallowed  scenes  and  associations  of  our  Zion. 
Cotemporaneous  history  can  only  record,  with  truthful- 
ness and  impartiality,  the  events  connected  with  Churches 
and  individuals ;  and,  as  it  is  desirable  that  these  should 
be  saved  from  oblivion,  we  trust  the  present  will  not  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  are  conversant  with  it,  and  com- 
petent to  chronicle  its  historic  scenes. 

Years  roll  on,  and  still  we  witness  another  change. 
The  increase  of  the  membership  was  such  that  the 
church  was  unable  to  accommodate  the  multitudes  that 
crowded  the  gates  of  Zion;  and  hence,  under  the  admin- 
istration of  Rev.  W.  H.  Raper,  a  new  church  was  erected 
in  the  year  1835.  This  church  was  fifty  feet  wide  and 
seventy-live  feet  long,  aud  marked  a  new  era  in  the  prog- 
ress of  Methodism  so  far  as  church  building  was  con- 
cerned. It  was  about  the  time  when  churches  began  to 
be  built  with  basements  for  lectures  and  Sabbath  school 
purposes,  but,  unfortunately,  partly  below  the  ground. 
This  was  the  case  with  this  new  church  ;  but  an  exeat** 


XENIA    FEMALE    SEMINARY.  535 

fion  has,  in  a  good  degree,  obviated  the  difficulty.  Since 
those  days,  though  basements  have  not  been  dispensed 
with,  they  are  generally  constructed  above  ground,  and 
are  pleasant  and  useful  appendages.  To  the  church  was 
added  a  steeple,  in  which  was  placed  a  fine-toned  bell. 
At  the  time  of  the  erection  of  this  church  it  was  re- 
garded as  the  finest  Methodist  church  in  Ohio;  and  we 
recollect  with  what  feelings  of  wonder  we  gazed  upon  its 
columns  and  steeple  for  the  first  time,  at  a  conference 
held  there  many  years  ago.  It  was  the  first  Methodist 
steeple  we  had  ever  beheld,  and  though  thought  by  some 
an  innovation,  we  opine  that  a  steeple,  with  spire  to  point 
out  the  locality  of  the  church,  and  a  bell  to  summon  the 
inhabitants  to  the  house  of  prayer  and  religious  instruc- 
tion, will  not  be  considered  by  them  as  useless  things. 

This  church  stands  to  the  present  day,  and  its  mem- 
bership are  vigorous  and  active.  It  has  always  been  a 
favorite  appointment,  and  the  preacher  who  is  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  be  stationed  among  them,  and  enjoy  their  lib- 
eral-minded hospitality,  regrets  the  approach  of  the  pe- 
riod which,  in  accordance  with  the  economy  of  the 
Church,  removes  him  to  another  field.  Such  has  been 
the  progress  of  Methodism  in  Urbana,  that  it  became 
necessary  to  organize  a  new  charge,  and  last  year  an 
additional  church  was  erected  in  the  south-eastern  part 
of  the  town. 


CHAPTER    LXXXI. 

XENIA  FEMALE  SEMINARY  AND  COLLEGI- 
ATE INSTITUTE. 

This  young  but  flourishing  institution  is  located  in 
the  thriving  and  beautiful  town  of  Xenia,  on  the  route  of 
the   Cincinnati   and  Columbus,  and   Xenia,  Springfield, 


536         FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

and  Dayton  railroads.  The  citizens  of  this  place  are 
enterprising,  and,  if  we  may  judge  of  their  regard  for 
morality  and  religion  from  the  number  of  beautiful 
churches  it  contains,  it  will  not  fall  behind  any  place 
of  its  size  in  the  western  country.  The  country  around 
is  picturesque  and  beautiful,  while  the  land  is  exceed- 
ingly fertile  and  well  cultivated.  This  town,  like 
Urbana,  at  an  early  day  became  one  of  the  strongholds 
of  Methodism;  old  Union  circuit,  which  originally  in- 
cluded the  town  and  surrounding  country,  being  one 
among  the  first  formed  in  the  Xorth-western  territory. 
In  this  region  many  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Meth- 
odism lived  and  died,  and  from  it  went  forth  to  the 
itinerant  field  some  of  our  most  promising  and  talented 
young  ministers,  who  are  now,  in  their  prime,  filling 
some  of  the  most  important  posts  in  the  service  of  the 
Church.  Though  Methodism,  through  the  admirable 
agency  of  the  itinerant  system,  planted  the  first  churches 
and  obtained  the  precedence  of  all  other  denominations, 
which  in  numbers  and  influence  it  holds  to  this  day 
throughout  the  country,  yet  in  Xenia  it  has  had  to 
struggle  from  the  beginning  in  the  midst  of  much 
opposition.  Most  successfully,  however,  has  it  accom- 
plished its  mission,  and  its  aggressive  movements  have 
been  crowned  with  a  success  which  has  always  charac- 
terized the  energetic  publication  of  a  Gospel,  which 
exhibits  a  full  and  free  salvation  for  all  who  will  embrace 
its  provisions. 

The  educational  interests  of  Xenia,  like  those  of  al- 
most every  other  place  in  the  western  country  at  an 
early  day,  and,  indeed,  we  may  say  till  within  the  last 
quarter  of  a  century,  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  other 
denominations,  and  were  subject  to  their  control,  our 
pioneer  fathers  realizing  what  they  supposed  the  greater 
importance  of  winning  souls  to  Christ  nnd  gathering  the 


X  E  N  I  A     FEMALE     S  E  M  LNARY.  537 

wanderers  in  the  wilderness  into  the  fold  of  the  Church. 
Within  the  period  last  named,  so  rapid  has  been  the 
increase  in  the  numbers  and  wealth  of  the  Church,  and 
the  various  facilities  afforded  in  the  development  and 
resources  of  the  country,  and  the  large  increase  in  the 
ministry,  that  Methodism  has  entered  vigorously  into  the 
great  work  of  education,  and  bids  fair — if  it  does  not 
already — to  outstrip  all  other  denominations  in  the  pro- 
motion of  this  most  interesting  cause.  Many  institu- 
tions in  Ohio  connected  in  whole  or  in  part  with  other 
denominations,  aware  of  the  fact  of  the  greater  facilities 
enjoyed  by  the  Methodist  Church  through  the  numer- 
ous and  efficient  itinerant  agencies  for  advancing  the 
cause  of  education,  have  been  conveyed  to  the  patron- 
age of  the  conferences  in  its  bounds;  and  so  wonder- 
fully has  the  Church  gained  favor  in  this  respect  in 
the  eyes  of  the  people,  that  it  may  be  said  the  Meth- 
odists are  mainly  responsible  for  the  education  of  a 
majority  of  our  youth.  Impressed  with  this  idea,  at  a 
conference  held  in  Xenia  three  years  since,  the  Trustees 
and  stockholders  of  the  Xenia  Female  Seminary  pro- 
posed to  transfer  the  same  to  the  conference,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  by  that  body  to  confer  with  said 
Trustees  in  regard  to  the  matter.  A  seminary  edifice 
had  been  erected  near  the  town  on  an  elevated  site,  in  a 
beautiful  grove  containing  about  three  acres,  and  pre- 
senting a  commanding  position.  The  result  of  the  de- 
liberations was  the  appointment  of  a  board  of  commis- 
sioners to  negotiate  the  transfer,  should  they  in  their 
judgment  deem  it  best  for  the  interests  of  the  Church 
In  due  time  the  conditions  were  complied  with  and  the 
transfer  made;  and  at  the  conference  held  at  Hillsboro 
the  following  year  lie  v.  Ashury  Lowrey.  A.  M.,  was 
appointed  by  the  I  rincipal,  under  whose  super- 

intendence the  Seminary  was  organized  and   went    into 


538  FOOT-PRINTS     OF    AN    ITINERANT. 

operation  under  the  new  regime.  On  the  adoption  of 
the  institution  by  the  conference  and  the  appointment 
of  the  number  of  trustees  allowed  by  the  terms  of  the 
contract  with  the  stockholders,  the  Board  immediately 
proceeded,  having  raised  the  requisite  amount  of  funds, 
to  the  erection  and  furnishing  of  a  large  boarding  hall 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  family  of  the  President 
and  the  boarding  scholars  from  abroad.  This  is  a  fine 
edifice,  and  well  adapted  for  all  the  purposes  for  which 
it  was  intended.  The  institution  from  this  date  began 
to  prosper,  and  the  community  generally  were  satisfied 
that  the  change  was  a  beneficial  one  to  all  concerned, 
notwithstanding  the  awakening  of  some  old  prejudices 
which  unhappily  exist  among  certain  denominations, 
which  cause  them  to  look  with  suspicion,  if  not  jeal- 
ousy, upon  the  movements  of  the  Church  in  regard  to 
the  subject  of  education.  This  we  believe,  however,  is 
almost  wholly  allayed,  and  the  pacific  though  aggressive 
spirit  of  Methodism  has  enabled  it  to  go  on  in  the  even 
tenor  of  its  way  in  diffusing  a  liberal  education  and  an 
enlightened  piety  over  the  land. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  Rev.  Mr.  Lowrey  resigned 
his  charge  as  Principal,  and  Eev.  Mansfield  French,  of 
the  Xorth  Ohio  conference,  was  appointed  in  his  stead. 
Mr.  French  is  one  of  Ohio's  earliest  educators,  having 
many  years  ago  started  a  seminary  in  Marietta,  which 
exists  to  this  day,  and  at  the  same  time  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  Marietta  College,  now  one  of  the  most  flour- 
ishing institutions  of  the  state,  under  the  control  of  the 
Congregationalists.  Subsequently  he  organized  a  female 
seminary  at  Circleville,  where  we  had  the  pleasure  of 
first  forming  his  acquaintance  and  that  of  his  estima- 
ble lady,  herself  an  excellent  teacher.  Since  then  he 
has  been  engaged  in  the  regular  work,  part  of  the  time 
operating  as  a  most  efficient   agent  of  education  for  tho 


XENIA    FEMALE    SEMINARY.  539 

Ohio  Wesleyan   University  and    the   Wesleyan   Female 
College. 

Under  the  auspices  of  Rev.  Mr.  French  the  Xenia 
Seminary  has  prospered  finely.  In  the  catalogue  for 
the  academic  year  just  closed  we  find  the  following  list 
of  the  Faculty:  Rev.  Mansfield  French,  President,  and 
Instructor  in  Natural  Philosophy  and  Higher  Mathe- 
matics; Mrs.  A.  M.  French,  Governess,  and  Teacher  in 
Moral  Science,  Physiology,  Botany,  and  Reading;  Miss 
E.  M.  French,  Teacher  in  Mathematics,  Ancient  Lan- 
guages, and  Composition;  Miss  0.  E.  Harrington,  Prin- 
cipal of  Preparatory  Department,  and  Teacher  in  As- 
tronomy; Miss  A.  Hedriek,  Teacher  of  Primary  Class; 
Miss  Jane  C.  Wiseman,  Teacher  in  Instrumental  Music; 
Mrs.  E.  K.  Thatcher,  Instructress  in  Vocal  and  Instru- 
mental Music. 

In  the  Preparatory  and  Collegiate  Departments  there 
are  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  pupils,  eighty-four  in 
the  latter  and  forty-eight  in  the  former.  The  course  of 
study  is  thorough  and  sufiiciently  comprehensive,  em- 
bracing, when  necessary,  some  of  the  modern  languages. 
For  purposes  of  illustration  in  the  Natural  Sciences  the 
institution  has  a  good  chemical  and  philosophical  appa- 
ratus. 

Such  are  the  advantages  afforded  in  our  Church  for 
a  thorough  education  in  all  the  solid  and  ornamental 
branches  of  education,  that  there  can  exist  no  necessity 
for  parents  sending  their  children  east  for  an  education ; 
tor  we  believe,  so  far  as  all  the  purposes  of  thorough 
mental  discipline  and  refinement  are  concerned,  no  ad- 
vantage whatever  can  be  gained. 


540  FOOT-PRINTS     OF     AN     ITT  N  E  R  A  K  T . 

CHAPTER  LXXXII. 

CONCLUSI 

TnE  aggressive  spirit  of  Methodism  lias  attracted  the 
attention  and  called  forth  the  admiration  of  many  of 
the  greatest  minds  both  in  Europe  and  America.  Meth- 
odism has  always  repudiated  the  idea  that  the  Chris- 
tian Church  was  like  a  besieged  fortress  only  able  to 
defend  itself,  rendering  an  attack  upon  the  territory  of 
her  enemies  out  of  the  question.  It  is  too  true  that 
some  of  our  societies  remind  me  of  a  garrison  which 
has  kept  out  the  enemy  so  long  that  the  draic-lridges  can 
not  he  lowered,  and  they  have  become  so  fond  of  gar- 
rison fare  and  garrison  duty  that  they  have  lost  their 
courage,  and  feel  no  desire  to  enter  the  campaign  and 
attack  the  enemy  on  his  own  territories.  0,  brethren, 
let  us  awake  to  the  notes  of  preparation  now  falling  on 
our  ears !  The  great  moral  conflict  waxes  hotter  and 
hotter  still.  As  light  increases  and  '.'makes  mani- 
fest^ resistance  becomes  fierce  and  determined.  God 
is  " shaking  terribly  the  nations.''  The  armies  are  in 
motion. 

"  The  cr.oss  is  in  the  SelcK 
That  banner,  brighter  than  the  star  that  loads  the  train  of  1.  . 

-  on  their  march,  and  guides  from  afar  his  servants  for  the  flight." 

What  are  we  doing  as  a  Church  in  Ohio?  Let  us 
look  for  a  moment  at  our  numerical  strength,  not  as  a 
cause  of  self-gratulation,  but  of  wonder,  thanksgiving, 
and  deep  humiliation.     In  this  state  we  have  one  hun- 

ix  hundred  and  thirty  mem- 

.   hundred   and  forty-three   traveling  preachers, 

and  nine  hundred  and  eighty-one  local  preachers,  making, 

in  all,  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  thousand,  three  hun- 


CONCLUSION.  541 

dred  and  fifty-four.  These  are  distributed  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner:  Erie  conference  in  Ohio,  eight  thou- 
sand, two  hundred  and  sixty-seven  members,  sixty-eight 
traveling,  and  seventy-eight  local  preachers;  Pittsburg 
conference  in  Ohio,  eighteen  thousand,  nine  hundred 
and  thirteen  members,  ninety-four  traveling,  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-five  local  preachers;  North  Ohio  con- 
ference, twenty-nine  thousand,  six  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  members,  two  hundred  and  thirteen  traveling,  and 
two  hundred  and  fifty-two  local  preachers;  Ohio  confer- 
ence, thirty  thousand,  four  hundred  and  eleven  members, 
one  hundred  and  fifty-five  traveling,  and  two  hundred  and 
thirty- five  local  preachers;  Cincinnati  conference,  thirty- 
two  thousand,  three  hundred  and  sixty-six  members, 
two  hundred  and  thirteen  traveling,  and  two  hundred 
uid  seventy-one  local  preachers. 

What  have  we  done  the  past  year  for  missions,  church 
edifices,  and  especially  for  the  salvation  of  immortal 
souls?  Are  we  following  in  the  footsteps  of  Him  "who 
went  about  doing  good?"  Or,  are  we  "heaping  up  un- 
certain riches,"  forgetting  that 

"  Dying  rich  is  guilt's  blunder 
And  the  loudest  laugh  of  helL" 

Have  we  a  passion  for  saving  sinners?  are  we  rich  in 
"good  works,  ready  to  distribute,  willing  to  communi- 
cate, laying  up  in  store  for  ourselves  a  good  foundation 
for  the  time  to  come?" 

In  1777  a  vessel  attempted,  during  a  tremendous 
storm,  to  run  into  the  harbor  of  Dieppo.  Boussard,  the 
pilot,  who  was  never  missing  when  the  tempest  raged, 
was  on  the  pier,  and  seeing  the  captain  make  several 
false  maneuvers,  called  to  him  with  his  speaking-trum- 
pet, but,  owing  to  the  raging  of  the  storm  and  darkness 
of   the  night,  his  efforts  proved  unsuccessful,  and  the 


542  FOOT-PRINTS     0  1     AN     ITINERA  N  T  . 

vessel  :y  fathoms  above  the  pier.     By« 

ery  body  except  Boussard   c  ■    up   for 

Determined  to  save  them,  be  tied  a  rope  around  hia 
in  order  to  cany  it  to  the  sbip.  His  wife  and 
children  surrounded  him,  and  besought  him  not  to  rush 
into  destruction.  But  he  listened  only  to  the  voice  of 
pleading  humanity,  and  at  length  prevailed  on  the  by- 
standers to  take  home  his  wife  and  children.  He  then 
tied  the  rope  to  the  pier  and  round  his  body  and 
plune:  he  sea.     Twenty  times  did  the  waves  hurl 

him  back  upon  the  beach,  and  as  often  did  he  plunge 
again  into  the  raging  billows.  A  fresh  wave  flung  him 
toward  the  ship,  and  he  disappeared  beneath  her.  A 
general   er  ror  proclaimed  his    destruction.     But 

he  only  dived  to  lay  hold  of  a  sailor  which  the  sea  had 
from  the  deck,  and  whom  he  contrived  to  take  to 
the  shore.  A  last  attempt  proved  successful  to  reach 
the  ship.  He  climbed  her  sides  and  saved  the  crew, 
who  were  drawn  ashore  one  after  another  by  means  of 
the  r 

But  Boussard  had  not  yet  finished  his  glorious  work. 
Exhausted  by  his  exertions,  he  was  carried  by  his  friends 
to  the  nearest  house.  A  gust  of  wind  wafted  to  the 
shore  the  cry  of  another  passenger,  who  had  been  left 
behind.  Boussard  felt  he  had  another  felhic-creature  to 
:rength  renewed,  and  ere  his  friends 
were  aware  rushed  out  of  the  house  and  encountered  the 
same  difficulties  for  his  rescue  also,  and  was  successful. 
XVI  made  him  a  |  :  f   ten  thousand  francs, 

and  settled  on  him  a  pension  of  three  hundred  francs 
more.  He  was  appointed  keeper  of  the  Pier  light-house, 
which  has  ever  since  been  held  by  the  Boussards,  de- 
scending from  father  to  son;  and  not  a  year  has  been  un- 
marked by  deeds  worthy  of  the  first  possessor.  Close 
to  the  parapet  at   the  pier  of  Dieppe  is  a  pole  covered 


conclusio-n.  543 

with  copper,  to  which  is  fastened  a  chain.  Here  in 
every  storm  since  1777,  whether  in  the  night  or  day, 
a  Boussard  has  taken  his  station,  and  clinging  to  the 
chain,  served  as  a  warning  voice  to  those  whom  danger 
and  a  tempestuous  sea  had  driven  into  the  harbor. 
And,  though  the  waves  broke  over  him  and  washed 
him  from  his  post  of  honor,  rising  from  their  bosom  he 
would  give  advice  with  his  speaking-trumpet  in  defiance 
of  the  sea  and  storm.  Fifty  times  has  a  Boussard  risked 
his  life  to  save  others.  Napoleon  ordered  a  house  built 
for  him,  where  the  first  Boussard  performed  his  heroic 
achievement.  He  also  gave  him  the  "  cross  of  honor." 
For  more  than  half  a  century,  wherever  there  has 
been  a  vessel  or  a  felloiv-creature  to  save,  the  people  have 
asked,  " Have  we  no  Boussard  here?" 

Here,  my  dear  reader,  is  an  example  worthy  of  imita- 
tion. How  many  "Boussards"  have  we  in  Ohio  out 
of  our  one  thousand,  six  hundred  and  twenty-four 
preachers  and  among  our  exhorters  and  laity?  Bous- 
sard listened  only  to  the  voice  of  suffering  humanity 
when  the  lives  of  his  fellow-creatures  were  in  jeopardy. 
Forgetful  of  self,  of  wife  and  children,  he  plunged  into 
the  sea  and  encountered  the  raging  billows  to  save  one 
poor,  shipwrecked  fellow-mortal  from  a  watery  grave. 
He  felt  that  his  work  was  not  done  while  the  cry  of  one 
struggling  for  life  amid  the  angry  waves  still  fell  on  his 
ear.  But  0  my  soul,  how  many  of  us  witness  the  wreck 
of  hundreds  of  immortal  spirits  sinking  around  us,  with- 
out making  one  single  effort  to  save  them  from  the 
horrors  of  a  second  death !  As  they  sink  to  rise  no 
more,  a  mournful  wail  comes  back  to  us  from  the  far-off 
coast  of  despair,  "no  man  careth  for  my  soul."  And 
yet  we  fold  our  arms  and  say,  "Am  I  my  brother's 
keeper?" 

In  1798  Napoleon  and  his  army  crossed  the  desert  to 


544  F  0  0  T  -  P  R  I  X  T  S     OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

attack  the  Mamalukes  and  capture  the  city  of  Cairo 
Who  can  tell  the  sufferings  of  that  weary  march?  Thej 
were  from  the  plains  of  sunny  Italy,  from  the  orange 
bowers  of  the  hill-sides,  and  from  the  crystal,  flowing 
fountains  fed  from  the  glimmering  peaks  of  Jura.  How 
changed  the  scene  on  every  side !  The  desert,  like  an 
ocean,  waved  in  voiceless  tide.  All  was  sand — scorching, 
withering  sand — with  here  and  there  an  image  looming 
up  like  a  mirage  to  tantalize  the  vision.  Night  came, 
and  the  weary  soldier  laid  him  down  by  his  toil-worn 
general  to  die.  Black  bread  teeming  with  vermin  sick- 
ened the  voracious  appetite,  and  the  brackish  water 
of  the  stagnant  pool  made  their  thirst  the  greater. 
The  morning  dawned  and  onward  they  marched — a  band 
of  indomitable  spirits  led  on  by  the  conqueror  of  the 
Alps.  The  third  day  came,  and  the  general  knew  that 
the  river  of  Egypt  was  near.  Their  arms  were  in- 
spected, and  the  army  in  battle  army  drew  near  the 
Nile.  Noon  came,  and  all  at  once  the  beautiful  river 
in  its  majesty  rolled  at  the  feet  of  the  adventurers.  A 
little  in  the  distance  was  seen  the  "  Flotilla,"  with  the 
flag  of  the  republic  waving  over  it,  and  green  fields  and 
waving  groves  spread  in  beauty  around  them. 

"The  Nile  !  the  Nile  !"  thundered  along  the  whole  line. 
And  then  officers  and  men  without  due  consideration 
rushed  into  its  waters.  Not  a  soldier  threw  off  his 
knapsack  or  stacked  his  musket.  "  Water!  water!  0. 
God,  a  drop  of  water!"  cried  the  weary  and  sick. 
Nor  did  the  cry  cease  till  the  foremost  soldiers  had 
satisfied  themselves  and  ministered  to  the  wants  of  their 
fellows.  The  army  soon  reached  Dankour  and  encamped 
upon  a  field  of  grain.  The  Mamalukes  were  beaten,  and 
Napoleon  entered  Cairo. 

The  front  ranks  of  Napoleon's  army  in  the  waters  of 
the  Mile,  to  my  mind,  strikingly  represents  the  position 


CONCLUSION  545 

of  the  Christian  Church — drinking  freely  of  the  "water 
of  the  river  of  life,"  while  the  unconverted  are  lying 
in  the  rear  on  the  sandy  beach  beneath  a  scorching  sun, 
crying  aloud,  "Water!  water!  water!  0,  Grod,  a  drop 
of  water,  or  we  die !"  Will  we  continue  to  drink  of 
this  life-giving  stream,  and  still  withhold  the  "cup  of 
salvation"  from  our  friends  and  neighbors?  May  kind 
Heaven  forbid  it !  0  let  us  say,  in  the  language  of  Christ 
on  the  "last  and  great  clay  of  the  feast,"  "If  any  man 
thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me  and  drink."  "And  it 
shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days  that  living  waters 
shall  go  out  from  Jerusalem  half  of  them  toward  the 
hinder  sea  and  half  of  them  toward  the  former  sea,  and 
in  summer  and  winter  it  shall  be." 

"Come,  traveler,  slake  thy  thirst, 
And  drive  a^vay  dull  care ; 
Thou  need'st  not  broach  thy  little  purse, 
For  I  am  free  as  air. 

My  home  is  on  the  mountain-side, 

My  course  is  to-ward  the  sea ; 
Then  drink  till  thou  art  satisfied, 

Yea,  drink,  for  I  am.  free." 

I  am  a  firm  believer  in  "  the  good  time  coming."  I 
may  not  live  to  see  it,  but  while  I  do  live  I  will  labor 
on  and  toil  on  in  faith  and  hope.  I  may  not  be  alive 
when  the  "  watchman  on  the  walls  of  Zion  shall  see  eye 
to  eye,"  yet  I  will  labor  to  bring  it  to  pass  with  a  strong 
faith.  I  do  believe  all  that  "the  mouth  of  the  Lord 
hatl  spoken"  concerning  the  great  change  in  the 
Church  and  the  world  in  the  "latter  days."  At  all 
times  the  Church  and  her  ministers  must  work!  work! 
work!  It  is  our  duty  to  "sow  the  seed"  ever  remem- 
bering the  "increase  is  of  God" 

The  late  Dr.  Judson  labored  six  years  in  his  station 
before  he   baptized  a  single   convert.     After   three   of 


546  FOOT-PRINTS    OF    AN     ITINERANT. 

those  years  had  passed  he  was  asked,  in  view  of  apparent 
results,  what  evidence  he  had  of  ultimate  success.  "  As 
much,"  he  replied,  "as  there  is  a  God  who  will  fulfill 
all  his  promises."  His  faith  had  not  grasped  a  shadow. 
Over  thirty  years  have  elapsed  since  the  first  baptism, 
and  now  seventy  churches,  averaging  one  hundred  each, 
are  to  be  found  in  India. 

"God  is  not  a  man,  that  he  should  lie;  neither  the 
son  of  man,  that  he  should  repent."  What  if  our  eyes 
should  not  behold  this  glorious  consummation — the 
subjugation  of  the  world  to  Christ!  Our  reward  will 
be  in  proportion  as  we  have  toiled  for  its  accomplish- 
ment, and  our  faithfulness  while  continued  in  the  vine- 
yard. Luther  said,  non  secundem  fructum  scd  secundcm 
lahorem.  God  is  not  unrighteous  to  forget  our  work  and 
labor  of  love.  His  saints  will  not  forget  us  when  we 
rest  from  our  toils.      They  icill  remember  us  still. 

"  To  live  in  hearts  -we  leave  behind  us 

IS  NOT  TO  DEE." 

I  know  not  how  to  close  this  exhortation  without 
soliciting  an  interest  in  the  prayers  of  every  Christian 
reader,  that  I  may  cultivate  a  cheerful  submission  to  the 
will  of  God  in  all  things,  and  wait  patiently  for  the  close 
of  my  earthly  pilgrimage.  "For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  tc 
die  is  gain." 

"  In  lucid  robes  of  spotless  white, 
Religion's  angel  form 
Dispels  the  gloom  of  death's  dark  night, 
And  smiles  away  the  storm." 


THE    END. 


